Physics
Scientific paper
Jul 2003
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2003hst..prop.9746m&link_type=abstract
HST Proposal ID #9746
Physics
Hst Proposal Id #9746 Solar System
Scientific paper
The properties of the orbits of Kuiper belt object {KBO} satellites hold keys to fundamental insight into masses and densities of KBOs, the interaction history of the early solar system, the internal structure of distant ice-rock bodies, and even the genesis of the Pluto-Charon binary. Within the past 18 months, 9 KBO satellite systems have been discovered, allowing for the first time the possibility of characterizing a sample of KBO satellite orbital properties. We propose HRC observations to determine satellite orbits in the 6 best cases. We have carefully devised a strategy for each of these 6 systems to make maximum use of ground-based observations, previous HST observations, and the smallest possible number of new HST observations. Our proposed observations will efficiently provide highly reliable orbital solutions which are critical to achieving the scientific promise available from the study of these systems. Our strategy relies heavily on extensive Monte Carlo simulations to define optimal times of observing such that each new point obtained gives maximum leverage for refining the orbital solution. We find that with this strategy we can provide mass solutions for all 6 systems to an accuracy of better than 10% using only 25 new HST observations. This highly efficient program provides extreme scientific output with optimal use of scarce resources.
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