Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2003-01-22
Astron.J. 126 (2003) 430
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
Accepted to AJ, final version, contains list of names of all resonant KBOs known to humanity as of Feb 1 2003
Scientific paper
10.1086/375207
As part of our ongoing Deep Ecliptic Survey (DES) of the Kuiper belt, we report on the occupation of the 1:1 (Trojan), 4:3, 3:2, 7:4, 2:1, and 5:2 Neptunian mean-motion resonances (MMRs). The occupation of the 1:1 and 5:2 MMRs is not easily understood within the standard model of resonance sweeping by a migratory Neptune over an initially dynamically cold belt. Our dynamically hot, 5:2 resonant objects can librate with modest amplitudes of 90 deg within the resonance for at least 1 Gyr. Their trajectories cannot be explained by close encounters with Neptune alone, given the latter's current orbit. The hot orbits of such 5:2 resonant KBOs, unlike hot orbits of previously known resonant KBOs, may imply that these objects were pre-heated to large inclination and large eccentricity prior to resonance capture by a migratory Neptune. Our first discovered Neptunian Trojan, 2001QR322, may not owe its existence to Neptune's migration at all. The trajectory of 2001QR322 is remarkably stable; the object can undergo tadpole-type libration about Neptune's leading Lagrange (L4) point for at least 1 Gyr with a libration amplitude of 24 deg. Trojan capture probably occurred while Neptune accreted the bulk of its mass. For an assumed albedo of 12--4%, our Trojan is 130--230 km in diameter. Model-dependent estimates place the total number of Neptune Trojans resembling 2001QR322 at 20--60. Their existence might rule out violent orbital histories for Neptune.
Buie Marc William
Chiang Eugene I.
Elliot James L.
Jordan A. B.
Kern Susan D.
No associations
LandOfFree
Resonance Occupation in the Kuiper Belt: Case Examples of the 5:2 and Trojan Resonances 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 Resonance Occupation in the Kuiper Belt: Case Examples of the 5:2 and Trojan Resonances, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Resonance Occupation in the Kuiper Belt: Case Examples of the 5:2 and Trojan Resonances will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-73553