Other
Scientific paper
Sep 2009
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009dps....41.6504b&link_type=abstract
American Astronomical Society, DPS meeting #41, #65.04
Other
Scientific paper
We present new analysis of archival HST images of (47171) 1999 TC36 that confirm it as a triple system. Fits to the point-spread function consistently show that the apparent primary is itself composed of two similar-sized components, A1 and A2. These components can be consistently identified in each of nine epochs spread over seven years of time and observed with two instruments, STIS and ACS/HRC. The orbit of the central pair has a semi-major axis of a 867 km with a period of P 1.9 days. These orbital parameters yield a system mass that is consistent with Msys = 12.75±0.06 1018 kg derived from the orbit of the more distant secondary, component B. The diameters of the three components are dA1=281(+45,-38) km, dA2=258 (+41,-35) km, and dB=135 (+22,-18) km. The relative sizes of these components are more similar than in any other known multiple in the solar system. Taken together, the diameters and system mass yield a bulk density of ρ=582 (+317,-211) kg m-3. Photometry shows that component B is variable with an amplitude of > 0.17 ± 0.05 magnitudes. Components A1 and A2 do not show variability larger than 0.02 ± 0.01 magnitudes consistent with the orientation of the mutual orbit plane and tidally-distorted equilibrium shapes. The high specific angular momentum, J/J'=0.92 of the (47171) 1999 TC36 system suggests that it formed by capture rather than collision as has been proposed for the two other multiple systems in the Kuiper Belt. This work was supported under NASA contract NAS 5-26555 and HST programs 11113 and 11178.
Benecchi Susan D.
Grundy Will M.
Levison Harold F.
Noll Keith S.
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