Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Oct 2010
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2010dps....42.2308m&link_type=abstract
American Astronomical Society, DPS meeting #42, #23.08; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 42, p.992
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
Scientific paper
The power-law size distribution of classical Kuiper belt objects exhibits a break at diameters of approximately 90km. Whether this break reflects the primordial process of planetesimal formation or ongoing collisional evolution of KBOs remains a subject of debate, with implications for both of the history of the outer solar system and the physical properties of planetesimals. While many measurements of the optical colors of KBOs have been obtained, few data are available for objects below the break in the size distribution. Because KBOs in 3:2 resonance with Neptune range closer to the Sun than classical objects, more color information is available for small bodies in this dynamical class. Here, we demonstrate that KBOs in 3:2 resonance have colors that differ strongly with size, and argue that this color dependence may show that the break in the size distribution was generated by collisions.
Benecchi Susan D.
Murray-Clay Ruth
Noll Keith S.
Schlichting Hilke E.
No associations
LandOfFree
Possible Evidence of a Collisional Break in the Color Distribution of Resonant Kuiper Belt Objects 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 Possible Evidence of a Collisional Break in the Color Distribution of Resonant Kuiper Belt Objects, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Possible Evidence of a Collisional Break in the Color Distribution of Resonant Kuiper Belt Objects will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1122273