Physics
Scientific paper
Jul 2002
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2002hst..prop.9298f&link_type=abstract
HST Proposal ID #9298
Physics
Hst Proposal Id #9298
Scientific paper
Over the past several years ground-based observations have revealed more than 200 bodies in orbit beyond Neptune in what is referred to as the Kuiper Belt. These Trans-Neptunian Objects {TNOs} are mainly at 30 to 50 AU, and with a detection threshold magnitude m_R = 22.5, correspond to bodies with diameters D>100 km. Even with a small sample there is evidence that TNOs belong to three distinct dynamical classes. The diameters of the detected TNOs are considerably larger than those of the known short-period comets implying that there must exist a large population of such objects with diameters similar to that of comet Halley { 10 km} and smaller. An attempt to detect Halley size TNOs using the WFPC2 to a limiting m_V 28 resulted only in a statistical detection that has been strongly criticized. The ACS Wide-Field Camera can significantly improve upon the WFPC2 survey by virtue of its greatly enhanced discovery potential. Our strategy will be to choose fields such that the HRC will contain a known, relatively bright TNO, so that the search algorithm can be internally verified. In addition, this will enable the search for cometary activity in the form of a faint dust coma around the brightest {and largest} TNOs. We estimate that in a single HST orbit, an object at a limiting magnitude of m_R = 28 can be detected with a signal to noise of >6. Extrapolation of the cumulative luminosity function predicts three such TNOs will be found, on average, in each WFC frame.
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