Near-infrared Methanol Bands Probe Energetic Processing of Icy Outer Solar System Objects

The Twinkle Space Mission is a space-based observatory that has been conceived to measure the atmospheric composition of exoplanets, stars and solar system objects. The satellite is based on a high-heritage platform and will carry a 0.45 m telescope with a visible and infrared spectrograph providing simultaneous wavelength coverage from 0.5 - 4.5 &#956;m. The spacecraft will be launched into a Sun-synchronous low-Earth polar orbit and will operate in this highly stable thermal environment for a baseline lifetime of seven years. Twinkle&#8217;s rapid pointing and non-sidereal tracking capabilities will enable the observation of a diverse array of Solar System objects, including asteroids and comets. Twinkle aims to provide a visible and near-infrared spectroscopic population study of asteroids and comets to study their surface composition and monitor activity. Its wavelength coverage and position above the atmosphere will make it particularly well-suited for studying hydration features that are obscured by telluric lines from the ground as well as searching for other spectral signatures such as organics, silicates and CO2. Twinkle is available for researchers around the globe in two ways: 1) joining its collaborative multi-year survey programme, which will observe hundreds of exoplanets and solar system objects; and 2) accessing dedicated telescope time on the spacecraft, which they can schedule for any combination of science cases. I will present an overview of Twinkle&#8217;s capabilities and discuss the broad range of targets the mission could observe, demonstrating the huge scientific potential of the spacecraft.

Download Full-text

Evaluating the Dynamical Stability of Outer Solar System Objects in the Presence of Planet Nine

The Astronomical Journal ◽

10.3847/1538-3881/aa7aa2 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 154 (2) ◽

pp. 61 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Juliette C. Becker ◽

Fred C. Adams ◽

Tali Khain ◽

Stephanie J. Hamilton ◽

David Gerdes

Keyword(s):

Solar System ◽

Dynamical Stability ◽

Outer Solar System ◽

Solar System Objects

Download Full-text

DYNAMICALLY EXCITED OUTER SOLAR SYSTEM OBJECTS IN THEHUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPEARCHIVE

The Astrophysical Journal ◽

10.1088/0004-637x/742/2/118 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 742 (2) ◽

pp. 118 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Cesar I. Fuentes ◽

David E. Trilling ◽

Matthew J. Holman

Keyword(s):

Solar System ◽

Outer Solar System ◽

Solar System Objects

Download Full-text

PlanetCam UPV/EHU: a simultaneous visible and near infrared lucky-imaging camera to study solar system objects

10.1117/12.926149 ◽

2012 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Agustin Sanchez-Lavega ◽

J. F. Rojas ◽

R. Hueso ◽

S. Perez-Hoyos ◽

L. de Bilbao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Solar System ◽

Near Infrared ◽

Solar System Objects ◽

Imaging Camera

Download Full-text

The Infrared Complex Refractive Index of Amorphous Ammonia Ice at 40 K (1.43–22.73 μm) and Its Relevance to Outer Solar System Bodies

The Planetary Science Journal ◽

10.3847/psj/ac3336 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2 (6) ◽

pp. 240

Author(s):

Joseph E. Roser ◽

Alessandra Ricca ◽

Richard J. Cartwright ◽

Cristina Dalle Ore ◽

Dale P. Cruikshank

Keyword(s):

Refractive Index ◽

Solar System ◽

Near Infrared ◽

Complex Refractive Index ◽

Laboratory Data ◽

Ir Absorption ◽

Outer Solar System ◽

Infrared Transmission ◽

Mid Infrared ◽

Solar System Bodies

Abstract A near-IR absorption band at 2.2 μm linked to ammonia-containing ice has been detected on icy bodies throughout the solar system and appears in the extensive volume of data for Pluto and Charon returned by New Horizons. This band is an important clue for understanding the abundance of ammonia and ammoniated compounds on the surface of outer solar system bodies and requires new laboratory data for its full analysis. To satisfy this data need, the complex refractive index of amorphous ammonia ice was calculated from experimental infrared transmission spectra with ice deposition and measurements conducted at 40 K, a characteristic surface temperature for outer solar system bodies. The measured imaginary part of the complex refractive index and associated band strength calculations are generally larger than prior published values for amorphous ammonia ice at 30 K. The complex refractive index for amorphous ammonia at 40 K computed in the mid-infrared region (2.5–22.73 μm) will also be valuable for interpreting observations of both solar system and astrophysical sources anticipated with the Near InfraRed Spectrograph and Mid-Infrared Instrument on the James Webb Space Telescope.

Download Full-text

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

10.5194/epsc2021-339 ◽

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

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 r 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. The Colours of the Outer Solar System Origins Survey (Col-OSSOS, Schwamb et al., 2019) took near-simultaneous g-, r- and J-band 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 &#8216;hot&#8217; population. We split this colour distribution into the &#8216;neutral&#8217; coloured population with (g&#8722;r) < 0.75 and the &#8216;red&#8217; coloured populationwith (g&#8722;r) &#8805; 0.75. 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 (g&#8722;r) versus (r&#8722;J) colours, with (g&#8722;r) colour near solar colour. Using the Gemini North telescope in Hawaii we have taken extra photometry in the i&#8722; and z&#8722;bands 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&#8217;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 griz 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. References Bus, S. J., & Binzel, R. P. 2002, Icarus, 158, 146 DeMeo, F. E., & Carry, B. 2013, Icarus, 226, 723 Schwamb, M. E., Bannister, M. T., Marsset, M., et al. 2019, ApJS, 243, 12 Seccull, T., Fraser, W. C., Puzia, T. H., Brown, M. E., & Sch&#246;nebeck, F. 2018, ApJ, Letters, 855, L26 Tegler, S. C., Romanishin, W., Consolmagno, G. J., & J., S. 2016, AJ, 152, 210

Download Full-text

Near-Infrared Spectroscopy of Primitive Solar System Objects

Icarus ◽

10.1006/icar.1994.1081 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 109 (1) ◽

pp. 133-144 ◽

Cited By ~ 55

Author(s):

Jane Luu ◽

David Jewitt ◽

Edward Cloutis

Keyword(s):

Infrared Spectroscopy ◽

Solar System ◽

Near Infrared Spectroscopy ◽

Near Infrared ◽

Solar System Objects

Download Full-text

Carlsberg Positions of Planets Compared with JPL DE403

International Astronomical Union Colloquium ◽

10.1017/s0252921100047084 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 165 ◽

pp. 541-546

Author(s):

L.V. Morrison ◽

M.E. Buontempo

Keyword(s):

Solar System ◽

Reference Frame ◽

Systematic Difference ◽

Outer Solar System ◽

Vlbi Observations ◽

Solar System Objects ◽

Hipparcos Catalogue ◽

Preliminary Version ◽

Celestial Reference Frame

AbstractThe Carlsberg meridian telescope has made nearly 20 000 observations of outer Solar System objects since it began operation in 1984. A preliminary version of the Hipparcos catalogue has been used to refer the positions to the International Celestial Reference Frame (ICRF). The observed positions of the major planets are compared with JPL DE403 which is also referred to the ICRF. The agreement with DE403 is good, except for the declination of Jupiter where there is a systematic difference reaching 015 in 1995. The cause of this discrepancy is being investigated at JPL with recent VLBI observations of Galileo.

Download Full-text

Twinkle: a low-Earth orbit, visible and infrared observatory for exoplanet and solar system spectroscopy

10.5194/epsc2021-588 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Billy Edwards ◽

Marcell Tessenyi ◽

Ian Stotesbury ◽

Richard Archer ◽

Ben Wilcock ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Solar System ◽

Near Infrared ◽

Surface Composition ◽

Space Mission ◽

Low Earth Orbit ◽

Earth Orbit ◽

Spectral Signatures ◽

Solar System Objects ◽

Scientific Potential ◽

Asteroids And Comets

<div>The Twinkle Space Mission is a space-based observatory that has been conceived to measure the atmospheric&#160;composition of exoplanets, stars and solar system objects. Twinkle&#8217;s collaborative multi-year global survey programmes&#160;will deliver visible and infrared spectroscopy of thousands of objects within and beyond our solar system, enabling&#160;participating scientists to produce world-leading research in planetary and exoplanetary science.</div> <div>&#160;</div> Twinkle&#8217;s rapid pointing and non-sidereal tracking capabilities will enable the observation of a diverse array of Solar System objects, including asteroids and comets. Twinkle aims to provide a visible and near-infrared (0.5-4.5 micron) spectroscopic population study of asteroids and comets to study their surface composition and monitor activity. Its wavelength coverage and position above the atmosphere will make it particularly well-suited for studying hydration features that are obscured by telluric lines from the ground as well as searching for other spectral signatures such as organics, silicates and CO2. I will present an overview of Twinkle&#8217;s capabilities and discuss the broad range of targets the mission could observe, including the measurements it will take to support&#160;JAXA's Martian Moons&#160;eXploration&#160;(MMX) mission, demonstrating the broad scientific potential of the spacecraft.

Download Full-text