Resolving Dynamical Properties for Four 2007 Mutual Uranus Satellite Encounters

C. Miller and N. J. Chanover (NMSU)

The 2007 Uranus equinox provided a rare opportunity to observe a number of mutual satellite encounters as the equatorial plane of Uranus pointed at Earth. We observed four satellite encounters - occultations of Titania and Ariel by Umbriel and eclipses of Ariel by Umbriel and of Umbriel by Ariel - with the Apache Point Observatory 3.5 meter telescope using the Agile high speed time-series photometer. We fitted data from simulated occultations and eclipses to our light curves to find values for three free parameters Ð event midpoint, relative velocity, and impact parameter. We compare our results to predicted values.