Bibcode
Pál, A.; Kiss, Cs.; Horner, J.; Szakáts, R.; Vilenius, E.; Müller, Th. G.; Acosta-Pulido, J. A.; Licandro, J.; Cabrera-Lavers, A.; Sárneczky, K.; Szabó, Gy. M.; Thirouin, A.; Sipőcz, B.; Dózsa, Á.; Duffard, R.
Referencia bibliográfica
Astronomy and Astrophysics, Volume 583, id.A93, 8 pp.
Fecha de publicación:
11
2015
Revista
Número de citas
11
Número de citas referidas
11
Descripción
We present estimates of the basic physical properties including size and
albedo of the extreme Centaur 2013 AZ60. These properties
have been derived from optical and thermal infrared measurements. Our
optical measurements revealed a probable full period of ≈9.4 h with a
shallow amplitude of 4.5%. By combining optical brightness information
and thermal emission data, we are able to derive a diameter of 62.3
± 5.3 km and a geometric albedo of 2.9%, which corresponds to an
extremely dark surface. Additionally, our finding of ≳50
Jm-2 K-1 s- 1/2 for the thermal inertia
is also remarkable for objects in such a distance. The results of
dynamical simulations yield an unstable orbit, with a 50% probability
that the target will be ejected from the solar system within 700 000 yr.
The current orbit of this object and its instability could imply a
pristine cometary surface. This possibility agrees with the observed low
geometric albedo and red photometric colour indices for the object,
which match the surface of a dormant comet well, as would be expected
for a long-period cometary body approaching perihelion. Although it was
approaching ever closer to the Sun, however, the object exhibited
star-like profiles in each of our observations, lacking any sign of
cometary activity. According to the albedo, 2013 AZ60 is a
candidate for the darkest body among the known trans-Neptunian objects.
Proyectos relacionados
Pequeños Cuerpos del Sistema Solar
Este Proyecto estudia las propiedades físicas y composicionales de los llamados pequeños cuerpos del Sistema Solar, que incluyen asteroides, objetos helados y cometas. Entre los grupos de mayor interés destacan los objetos trans-neptunianos (TNOs), incluyendo los objetos más lejanos detectados hasta la fecha (Extreme-TNOs o ETNOs); los cometas, y
Julia de
León Cruz