Mutual Orbits and Masses of Six Transneptunian Binaries

Details Mutual Orbits and Masses of Six Transneptunian Binaries Mutual Orbits and Masses of Six Transneptunian Binaries

2008-12-16

arxiv.org/abs/0812.3126v2

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

18 pages, 3 figures, 10 tables; in press in Icarus

Scientific paper

10.1016/j.icarus.2008.12.008

We present Hubble Space Telescope observations of six binary transneptunian systems: 2000 QL251, 2003 TJ58, 2001 XR254, 1999 OJ4, (134860) 2000 OJ67, and 2004 PB108. The mutual orbits of these systems are found to have periods ranging from 22 to 137 days, semimajor axes ranging from 2360 to 10500 km, and eccentricities ranging from 0.09 to 0.55. These orbital parameters enable estimation of system masses ranging from 0.2 to 9.7 x 10+18 kg. For reasonable assumptions of bulk density (0.5 to 2.0 g cm-3), the masses can be combined with visible photometry to constrain sizes and albedos. The resulting albedos are consistent with an emerging picture of the dynamically "Cold" Classical subpopulation having relatively high albedos, compared with comparablysized objects on more dynamically excited orbits.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Mutual Orbits and Masses of Six Transneptunian Binaries 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 Mutual Orbits and Masses of Six Transneptunian Binaries, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Mutual Orbits and Masses of Six Transneptunian Binaries will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-227712