Pluto will be the star of a rare 90-second show in Lauder, Central Otago next week.
Scientists from Europe and the United States were flocking to the National Institute Water and Atmospheric Research base in Lauder to catch a brief glimpse of Pluto on Tuesday at 4am, its first appearance in almost 10 years.
NIWA atmospheric scientist Dr Richard Querel said the dwarf planet would be visible for only 90 seconds through powerful telescopes from Central Otago, and could also be visible from Tasmania or southeast Australia.
Known as a stellar occultation in astronomy, it was similar to an eclipse, where Pluto would pass in front of a star which would then shine light on the planet.
It would give the ''best possible opportunity'' in a decade to observe Pluto's atmosphere, Mr Querel said.
Lauder, about 35km from Alexandra, was renowned for its clear skies, he said.
Mr Querel told the Otago Daily Times he was hopeful about the weather, despite predicted cloud and rain next week, although ''it was hard to tell one week out''.
Depending on the forecast, some scientists might try taking a portable telescope up to Wanaka or the Old Man range, he said.
A modified Boeing 747 aircraft belonging to Nasa, which was temporarily based in Christchurch, would also be trying to capture the planet's data and images.
The planet's appearance comes just two weeks before Nasa's spaceship New Horizons, flies past Pluto to collect images and data.
Collecting the data would enable to scientists to help find out more about the ''puzzle'' that is the universe.
Although they were mostly ''atmospheric'' people in Lauder, the astronomical event had created a ''buzz'', he said.
They were still fine-tuning the precise timing and expected path of the shadow of the occultation but there was a good chance of seeing something from Central Otago, provided the weather was clear, he said.
