Evidence for Recent Resurfacing of the Binary Kuiper Belt Object 1997 CS29

Details Evidence for Recent Resurfacing of the Binary Kuiper Belt Object 1997 CS29 Evidence for Recent Resurfacing of the Binary Kuiper Belt Object 1997 CS29

Sep 2009

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009dps....41.6509r&link_type=abstract

American Astronomical Society, DPS meeting #41, #65.09

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Scientific paper

At solar phase angles less than 0.1 deg, some icy bodies exhibit an extraordinary opposition surge, suddenly brightening by 50% at near zero phase. Verbiscer et al [1] observed this phenomena for the icy Galilean satellites Mimas, Enceladus, Tethys, Dione, and Rhea and suggest the surge results from the light-scattering properties of freshly resurfaced icy regoliths. Buratti et al [2] and Earle et al [3] observed a similarly sharp opposition surge on Neptune's icy satellite Triton, which is known to have active cryovolcanoes. Here we examine the solar phase curves of 9 Trans-Neptunian Objects that we have measured at phase angles smaller than 0.1 deg (Rabinowitz et al [4], Schaefer et al [5]), including previously unpublished observations 1997 CS29 and 2005 UJ438. This sample includes hot and cold classical Kuiper-Belt objects, Plutinos, Centaurs, and three binary TNOs. Of all these targets, only 1997 CS29 has a sharp surge at near zero phase, and a nearly flat phase curve at large angles. Since this target is also a binary with an unusually large and close companion [6], we suggest that both 1997 CS29 and its companion have been resurfaced by each other's impact ejecta via the mechanism proposed by Stern [7], with fresh surface material producing the opposition spike.
[1] Verbiscer, A., et al. 2007, Science, 315, 815; [2] Buratti, B. et al. 2007, Workshop on Ices, Oceans, and Fire: Satellites of the Outer Solar System, Boulder Colorado; [3] Earle, D., et al. 2008, BAAS, 40, 480; [4] Rabinowitz, D. et al. 2007, AJ, 133, 26; [5] Schaefer, B., et al. 2009, AJ, 137, 129; [6] Stephens, D. & Knoll, K. 2006, AJ, 131,1142;[7] Stern, S. A. 2009, Icarus, 199, 571.

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