Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2005-10-05
Astron.J.131:1142-1148,2006
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
Accepted for Publication in the Astronomical Journal, 24 pages
Scientific paper
10.1086/498715
We have analyzed a homogeneous set of observations of eighty-one transneptunian objects obtained with the NIC2 camera on the Hubble Space Telescope with the goal of identifying partially resolved binaries. Using PSF-fitting we have identified six likely binaries in addition to the three new binaries already found in this data set. We find that 11% of transneptunian objects are binaries at separation and brightness limits of the NIC2 camera. The identification of these new binaries significantly increases the known lower limit to the binary fraction among transneptunian objects. The origin of such a high fraction of binaries remains to be determined. Most interestingly, detectable binaries appear to be about four times more common among the cold classical disk than in the dynamically excited populations.
Noll Keith S.
Stephens Denise C.
No associations
LandOfFree
Detection of Six Transneptunian Binaries with NICMOS: A High Fraction of Binaries in the Cold Classical Disk 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 Detection of Six Transneptunian Binaries with NICMOS: A High Fraction of Binaries in the Cold Classical Disk, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Detection of Six Transneptunian Binaries with NICMOS: A High Fraction of Binaries in the Cold Classical Disk will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-249714