scholarly journals The Dark Red Spot on KBO Haumea

2009 ◽  
Vol 5 (S263) ◽  
pp. 192-196 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pedro Lacerda
Keyword(s):  
Solar System ◽  
Bulk Density ◽  
Kuiper Belt ◽  
Rotation Period ◽  
Kuiper Belt Objects ◽  
Kuiper Belt Object ◽  
Average Surface ◽  
Surface Features ◽  
Ice Surface ◽  
Rotational Deformation

AbstractKuiper belt object 136108 Haumea is one of the most fascinating bodies in our solar system. Approximately 2000 × 1600 × 1000 km in size, it is one of the largest Kuiper belt objects (KBOs) and an unusually elongated one for its size. The shape of Haumea is the result of rotational deformation due to its extremely short 3.9-hour rotation period. Unlike other 1000 km-scale KBOs which are coated in methane ice the surface of Haumea is covered in almost pure H2O-ice. The bulk density of Haumea, estimated around 2.6 g cm−3, suggests a more rocky interior composition, different from the H2O-ice surface. Recently, Haumea has become the second KBO after Pluto to show observable signs of surface features. A region darker and redder than the average surface of Haumea has been identified, the composition and origin of which remain unknown. I discuss this recent finding and what it may tell us about Haumea.

scholarly journals The solar nebula origin of (486958) Arrokoth, a primordial contact binary in the Kuiper Belt

Science ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 367 (6481) ◽  
pp. eaay6620 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. B. McKinnon ◽  
D. C. Richardson ◽  
J. C. Marohnic ◽  
J. T. Keane ◽  
W. M. Grundy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solar System ◽  
Kuiper Belt ◽  
Solid Particles ◽  
Early Solar System ◽  
Low Velocity ◽  
Kuiper Belt Object ◽  
New Horizons ◽  
Contact Binary ◽  
Collapsing Cloud ◽  
Gas Drag

The New Horizons spacecraft’s encounter with the cold classical Kuiper Belt object (486958) Arrokoth (provisional designation 2014 MU69) revealed a contact-binary planetesimal. We investigated how Arrokoth formed and found that it is the product of a gentle, low-speed merger in the early Solar System. Its two lenticular lobes suggest low-velocity accumulation of numerous smaller planetesimals within a gravitationally collapsing cloud of solid particles. The geometric alignment of the lobes indicates that they were a co-orbiting binary that experienced angular momentum loss and subsequent merger, possibly because of dynamical friction and collisions within the cloud or later gas drag. Arrokoth’s contact-binary shape was preserved by the benign dynamical and collisional environment of the cold classical Kuiper Belt and therefore informs the accretion processes that operated in the early Solar System.

Collisions of small Kuiper belt objects with (486958) Arrokoth: Implications for its spin evolution and bulk density

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaochen Mao ◽  
William B. McKinnon ◽  
Kelsi N. Singer ◽  
James T. Keane ◽  
Ross A. Beyer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bulk Density ◽  
Kuiper Belt ◽  
Kuiper Belt Objects ◽  
Spin Evolution

scholarly journals Surface dynamics, equilibrium points and individual lobes of the Kuiper Belt object (486958) Arrokoth

2020 ◽  
Vol 496 (4) ◽  
pp. 4154-4173 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Amarante ◽  
O C Winter
Keyword(s):  
Equilibrium Points ◽  
Kuiper Belt ◽  
Rotation Period ◽  
Radial Symmetry ◽  
Irregular Shape ◽  
Orbital Energy ◽  
Dynamic Features ◽  
Kuiper Belt Object ◽  
Contact Binary ◽  
Power Curves

ABSTRACT The New Horizons space probe led the first close flyby of one of the most primordial and distant objects left over from the formation of the Solar system, the contact binary Kuiper Belt object (486958) Arrokoth. This is composed of two progenitors, the lobes called Ultima and Thule. In the current work, we investigate Arrokoth’s surface in detail to identify the location of equilibrium points and also we explore each lobe’s individual dynamic features. We assume that Arrokoth’s irregular shape is a homogeneous polyhedra contact binary. We explore its dynamic characteristics numerically by computing its irregular binary geopotential in order to study its quantities, such as geometric height, oblateness, ellipticity and zero-power curves. The stability of Arrokoth Hill was also explored through zero-velocity curves. Arrokoth’s external equilibrium points have no radial symmetry due to its highly irregular shape. We identified even equilibrium points concerning its shape and spin rate: i.e. four unstable external equilibrium points and three inner equilibrium points, where two points are linearly stable, with an unstable central point that has a slight offset from its centroid. Moreover, the large and small lobes each have five equilibrium points with different topological structures from those found in Arrokoth. Our results also indicate that the equatorial region of Arrokoth’s lobes is an unstable area due to the high rotation period, while its polar locations are stable resting sites for surface particles. Finally, the zero-power curves indicate the locations around Arrokoth where massless particles experience enhancing and receding orbital energy.

scholarly journals The geology and geophysics of Kuiper Belt object (486958) Arrokoth

Science ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 367 (6481) ◽  
pp. eaay3999 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. R. Spencer ◽  
S. A. Stern ◽  
J. M. Moore ◽  
H. A. Weaver ◽  
K. N. Singer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solar System ◽  
Smooth Surface ◽  
Kuiper Belt ◽  
Solar System Formation ◽  
Small Bodies ◽  
Kuiper Belt Object ◽  
New Horizons ◽  
Geological Features ◽  
Solar System Bodies ◽  
Contact Binary

The Cold Classical Kuiper Belt, a class of small bodies in undisturbed orbits beyond Neptune, is composed of primitive objects preserving information about Solar System formation. In January 2019, the New Horizons spacecraft flew past one of these objects, the 36-kilometer-long contact binary (486958) Arrokoth (provisional designation 2014 MU69). Images from the flyby show that Arrokoth has no detectable rings, and no satellites (larger than 180 meters in diameter) within a radius of 8000 kilometers. Arrokoth has a lightly cratered, smooth surface with complex geological features, unlike those on previously visited Solar System bodies. The density of impact craters indicates the surface dates from the formation of the Solar System. The two lobes of the contact binary have closely aligned poles and equators, constraining their accretion mechanism.

scholarly journals How many satellites have been discovered in the Solar System after Galileo?

2010 ◽  
Vol 6 (S269) ◽  
pp. 250-253
Author(s):  
Zhanna Pozhalova ◽  
Dmitrij Lupishko
Keyword(s):  
Solar System ◽  
Kuiper Belt ◽  
Main Belt ◽  
Trojan Asteroids ◽  
Kuiper Belt Objects ◽  
Multiple Systems ◽  
Natural Satellites ◽  
Near Earth Asteroids

AbstractBy the beginning of 2010 the total number of natural satellites and multiple systems in the Solar System was equal to 350, including: 168 satellites of large planets, 119 multiple asteroids (including main-belt and near-Earth asteroids, Mars-crossers and Jupiter Trojan asteroids) and 63 multiple transneptunian and Kuiper-belt objects. Meanwhile, we cannot count precisely how many moons in total have been discovered to date due to the deficiency of accepted definitions.

Low temperature spectroscopy and irradiation effects on Solar System ices – Kuiper belt objects as a case study

2011 ◽  
Vol 13 (35) ◽  
pp. 15747
Author(s):  
Ralf I. Kaiser ◽  
Weijun Zheng ◽  
Yoshihiro Osamura ◽  
Agnes H. H. Chang
Keyword(s):  
Solar System ◽  
Low Temperature ◽  
Kuiper Belt ◽  
Irradiation Effects ◽  
Kuiper Belt Objects

scholarly journals Serpentinization in the thermal evolution of icy Kuiper belt objects in the early Solar system

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anikó Farkas-Takacs ◽  
Csaba Kiss ◽  
Sándor Góbi ◽  
Ákos Keresztúri
Keyword(s):  
Solar System ◽  
Thermal Evolution ◽  
Kuiper Belt ◽  
Early Solar System ◽  
Kuiper Belt Objects

Col-OSSOS: Investigating Outlying Surfaces within the Kuiper Belt's Neutral Coloured Objects

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Buchanan ◽  
Megan Schwamb ◽  
Wesley Fraser ◽  
Michele Bannister ◽  
Michaël Marsset ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solar System ◽  
Near Infrared ◽  
Kuiper Belt ◽  
Outer Solar System ◽  
Kuiper Belt Object ◽  
Broadband Absorption ◽  
Colour Measurements ◽  
Infrared Spectral ◽  
Colour Distribution ◽  
Absorption Features

<p>Within the outer Solar System exists the Kuiper belt. This Kuiper belt is made up of many icy planetesimals, the remaining relics of planet-forming bodies that failed to evolve into a planet beyond Neptune. The smaller members of the Kuiper belt (with <em>r</em> mag > 22) generally show linear and featureless spectra. Additionally, due to the dimness of these objects observing their spectra can be particularly difficult. Therefore, broadband photometry is often used to characterise their surfaces. The broadband photometry can be used as a proxy for composition, as it provides enough information to characterise the optical and near-infrared spectral slopes ofthese Kuiper Belt Object (KBO) surfaces.</p> <p>The Colours of the Outer Solar System Origins Survey (Col-OSSOS, Schwamb et al., 2019) took near-simultaneous <em>g-</em>, <em>r-</em> and <em>J-band</em> broadband photometry of a sample of KBOs with unprecedented precision using the Gemini North telescope. As with previous colour surveys (e.g. Tegler et al., 2016), they showed abimodal colour distribution in optical / near-infrared colours for the dynamically ‘hot’ population. We split this colour distribution into the ‘neutral’ coloured population with <em>(</em><em>g−r</em><em>)</em> < 0.75 and the ‘red’ coloured populationwith <em>(</em><em>g−r</em><em>)</em> ≥ 0.75.</p> <p>The preciseness of the colour measurements of Col-OSSOS has allowed the identification of several KBOs with outlying surface colours. These objects separated out from the rest of the neutral cloud in <em>(</em><em>g−r</em><em>)</em> versus <em>(r−J</em><em>)</em> colours, with <em>(</em><em>g−r</em><em>)</em> colour near solar colour. Using the Gemini North telescope in Hawaii we have taken extra photometry in the <em>i</em><em>−</em> and <em>z−</em><em>bands</em> for three of these objects (2013 JE64, 2013 JR65 and 2014 UL225). These additional filter observations will allow us to identify any possible broadband absorption features on these object’s surfaces that may have caused their outlying surface colours. Asteroid interloper 2004 EW95 (Seccull et al., 2018), along with some Jupiter Trojans and C-type asteroids (Bus & Binzel, 2002; DeMeo & Carry,2013) have been shown to have similar near solar neutral surfaces. In this presentation we will report resultsof the <em>griz</em> photometry of 2013 JE64, 2013 JR65 and 2014 UL225. We will make comparisons between these results and the photometry of previously identified outlying KBOs and comment on any possible similarities.</p> <p><strong>References</strong></p> <p>Bus, S. J., & Binzel, R. P. 2002, Icarus, 158, 146<br />DeMeo, F. E., & Carry, B. 2013, Icarus, 226, 723<br />Schwamb, M. E., Bannister, M. T., Marsset, M., et al. 2019, ApJS, 243, 12<br />Seccull, T., Fraser, W. C., Puzia, T. H., Brown, M. E., & Schönebeck, F. 2018, ApJ, Letters, 855, L26<br />Tegler, S. C., Romanishin, W., Consolmagno, G. J., & J., S. 2016, AJ, 152, 210</p>

scholarly journals Effects of Multiple Planetary Encounters on Kuiper Belt Objects

2002 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 243-244
Author(s):  
Ştefan Berinde
Keyword(s):  
Solar System ◽  
Diffusion Process ◽  
Statistical Approach ◽  
Kuiper Belt ◽  
Giant Planets ◽  
Outer Solar System ◽  
Kuiper Belt Objects ◽  
Easy Task ◽  
Close Encounters ◽  
Long Time

Nowadays many attempts are made to establish a qualitative and a quantitative connection between Kuiper Belt Population and Jupiter Family Comets. Basically, this can be thought as a diffusion process throughout the outer Solar System due to multiple close encounters with the giant planets. But, following the path of a body in such a process is not an easy task to be approached analytically nor numerically, because the motion is very chaotic and spread over a long time. A statistical approach seems to be a reasonable way and is the purpose of this paper.

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