Other
Scientific paper
Jul 2005
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2005hst..prop10555s&link_type=abstract
HST Proposal ID #10555
Other
Hst Proposal Id #10555 Solar System
Scientific paper
We propose to use the HST to search for satellites around Kuiper Belt Objects which have large amplitude, fast rotational light curves. Large main belt asteroids with similar light curve characteristics have been found to have near an 80 percent companion rate. This is over an order of magnitude more than the companion rate of main belt asteroids in general. The satellites were probably formed during the process which imparted the high angular momentum on the primary object. To date five Kuiper Belt objects exhibit high angular momentum through their rotational light curves. Two of them have been observed with STIS on the HST and one was found to be a binary. We request three orbits with HST/ACS in order to obtain deep high resolution images of the other three Kuiper Belt objects that have large amplitudes and fast rotations. In addition, we request one orbit to reobserve the other KBO which didn't have a satellite detection in order to obtain deeper and better resolution images than the first observations. Finding binaries is important not only to understand the processes which created the high angular momentum of the primary but also in determining the bulk densities and collisional histories of the objects.
No associations
LandOfFree
A Search for Satellites Around Kuiper Belt Objects Which Exhibit High Angular Momentum does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with A Search for Satellites Around Kuiper Belt Objects Which Exhibit High Angular Momentum, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and A Search for Satellites Around Kuiper Belt Objects Which Exhibit High Angular Momentum will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1250281