Detection of methane on Kuiper Belt Object (50000) Quaoar

Details Detection of methane on Kuiper Belt Object (50000) Quaoar Detection of methane on Kuiper Belt Object (50000) Quaoar

2007-10-18

arxiv.org/abs/0710.3591v1

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

8 pages, 2 figures, accepted for publication in ApJL

Scientific paper

10.1086/524140

The near-infrared spectrum of (50000) Quaoar obtained at the Keck Observatory shows distinct absorption features of crystalline water ice, solid methane and ethane, and possibly other higher order hydrocarbons. Quaoar is only the fifth Kuiper belt object on which volatile ices have been detected. The small amount of methane on an otherwise water ice dominated surface suggests that Quaoar is a transition object between the dominant volatile-poor small Kuiper belt objects (KBOs) and the few volatile-rich large KBOs such as Pluto and Eris.

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