Optical support of a Herschel Trans-Neptunian Object Key Programme

Details Optical support of a Herschel Trans-Neptunian Object Key Programme Optical support of a Herschel Trans-Neptunian Object Key Programme

Aug 2008

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2008noao.prop..253t&link_type=abstract

NOAO Proposal ID #2008B-0253

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astronomy

Scientific paper

Our team was recently selected to carry out a Herschel Key Programme entitled ``TNOs are cool: A survey of the Trans-Neptunian region.'' We will observe ~140 TNOs (Trans-Neptunian Objects; also known as Kuiper Belt Objects, or KBOs) to determine their sizes, albedos, densities, and thermal properties. Herschel, an ESA infrared mission with a 3.5 meter primary and observing capabilities in the 50- 500 micron range, will launch by the end of 2008, and the first science observations will occur within a few months after launch. Ground-based optical data is critical to support our key program both for astrometry, to reduce the positional uncertainties of the targeted bodies, and photometry, to model the thermal flux accurately. We propose here to use SOAR to observe 11 TNOs from our Herschel program to (a) obtain good positional measurements and (b) obtain good optical photometry. We will also place constraints of lightcurve variations of these targets and obtain BVRI photometry. Although we have many European colleagues on our Herschel team and correspondingly good access to European telescopes including ESO telescopes, SOAR is the only remaining opportunity to observe these 11 southern targets in 2008, as the European proposal deadlines have all passed. Ground-based observations are required now, as Herschel observations of these targets could begin as early as January, 2009.

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