The Last Mutual Event between the Satellites of Dwarf Planet Haumea

Mathematics – Probability

Scientific paper

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Scientific paper

The dwarf planet Haumea has a fascinating history, including the formation of two large satellites by an ancient mantle-shattering collision. Haumea also has an exciting future with many observable mutual events between Haumea and the smaller inner moon Namaka predicted for the next several years. The Haumea-Namaka mutual events will provide a wealth of information that is otherwise unattainable: the size, shape, and spin pole of Haumea; the size, albedo, and density of Namaka; and precise orbital constraints. The orbital orientation is not as favorable for the outer, larger satellite Hi'iaka, but the last mutual event between Hi'iaka and Namaka occurs on July 2, 2009 and will not occur again for a century. As a follow-up to our observations of the last satellite-satellite event {Program 11971}, we propose a short {7-orbit} STIS resolved photometry program to observe the last of these events, which will occur with an estimated 93% probability. Even catching a partial event can measure the density of Hi'iaka to within 15% and provide unique insight in the formation and evolution of this exciting system.;

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