Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Jul 2007
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2007dda....38.1001r&link_type=abstract
American Astronomical Society, DDA meeting #38, #10.01
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
Scientific paper
The recent discovery of a collisional family in the Kuiper belt (Brown et al. 2007) opens a wealth of interesting dynamical issues whose resolution will give powerful insights into the formation and evolution of the outer solar system. Unlike asteroid families, Kuiper belt families are stable for the age of the solar system and are therefore unique probes into the early solar system. Besides basic characterization (Ragozzine & Brown, in prep.), one of the foremost goals is to determine the age of the family formed by a giant impact on Kuiper belt object (KBO) 2003 EL61.
Dating this collision is possible because of slow (GYr) chaotic diffusion of orbital elements for objects in weak mean-motion resonances with Neptune. At least three known family members, and even more candidates, are known to be in resonances, including 2003 EL61 itself, which has already significantly diffused in eccentricity (Brown et al. 2007). By mapping these resonances, the diffusion timescales can be determined. We present preliminary results of the implications of these timescales for the age of the 2003 EL61 family.
Brown Michael E.
Ragozzine Darin
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