Compositional variation on the surface of Centaur 8405 Asbolus

S. D. Kern; D. W. Mccarthy; M. W. Buie; R. H. Brown; H. Campins; M. Rieke

doi:10.1086/312932

Compositional variation on the surface of Centaur 8405 Asbolus

S. D. Kern, D. W. Mccarthy, M. W. Buie, R. H. Brown, H. Campins, M. Rieke

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28 Scopus citations

Abstract

Near-infrared 1-2 μm spectra of the Centaur 8405 Asbolus (1995 GO) have been obtained using the Hubble Space Telescope near-infrared camera and multiobject spectrometer. Strong and variable absorption features indicate a significantly inhomogeneous surface characterized by water ice mixed with additional unknown constituents. Over a 1.7 hr interval, the observed spectra varied from a nearly featureless spectrum to a very complicated absorption spectrum, and the integrated flux varied in a manner consistent with previous light-curve observations. The accepted rotation period of 8.9351 hr assumes a shape-dominated light curve. Our observations indicate that the light curve may in fact be dominated by a relatively bright spot with a period of 4.47 hr, i.e., half the previous value.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	L155-L159
Journal	Astrophysical Journal
Volume	542
Issue number	2 PART 2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1086/312932
State	Published - Oct 20 2000

Keywords

Infrared: solar system
Kuiper Belt
Oort Cloud

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

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10.1086/312932

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title = "Compositional variation on the surface of Centaur 8405 Asbolus",

abstract = "Near-infrared 1-2 μm spectra of the Centaur 8405 Asbolus (1995 GO) have been obtained using the Hubble Space Telescope near-infrared camera and multiobject spectrometer. Strong and variable absorption features indicate a significantly inhomogeneous surface characterized by water ice mixed with additional unknown constituents. Over a 1.7 hr interval, the observed spectra varied from a nearly featureless spectrum to a very complicated absorption spectrum, and the integrated flux varied in a manner consistent with previous light-curve observations. The accepted rotation period of 8.9351 hr assumes a shape-dominated light curve. Our observations indicate that the light curve may in fact be dominated by a relatively bright spot with a period of 4.47 hr, i.e., half the previous value.",

keywords = "Infrared: solar system, Kuiper Belt, Oort Cloud",

author = "Kern, {S. D.} and Mccarthy, {D. W.} and Buie, {M. W.} and Brown, {R. H.} and H. Campins and M. Rieke",

note = "Funding Information: Support for this work was provided by NASA through grant GO-07822.01-96A from the Space Telescope Science Institute, which is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., under NASA contract NAS5-26555. We also acknowledge support from NASA project NAG-53359. The authors are grateful to M. Brown for providing data in advance of publication and to Tony Roman at the Space Telescope Science Institute who coordinated these observations.",

year = "2000",

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doi = "10.1086/312932",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "542",

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T1 - Compositional variation on the surface of Centaur 8405 Asbolus

AU - Kern, S. D.

AU - Mccarthy, D. W.

AU - Buie, M. W.

AU - Brown, R. H.

AU - Campins, H.

AU - Rieke, M.

N1 - Funding Information: Support for this work was provided by NASA through grant GO-07822.01-96A from the Space Telescope Science Institute, which is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., under NASA contract NAS5-26555. We also acknowledge support from NASA project NAG-53359. The authors are grateful to M. Brown for providing data in advance of publication and to Tony Roman at the Space Telescope Science Institute who coordinated these observations.

PY - 2000/10/20

Y1 - 2000/10/20

N2 - Near-infrared 1-2 μm spectra of the Centaur 8405 Asbolus (1995 GO) have been obtained using the Hubble Space Telescope near-infrared camera and multiobject spectrometer. Strong and variable absorption features indicate a significantly inhomogeneous surface characterized by water ice mixed with additional unknown constituents. Over a 1.7 hr interval, the observed spectra varied from a nearly featureless spectrum to a very complicated absorption spectrum, and the integrated flux varied in a manner consistent with previous light-curve observations. The accepted rotation period of 8.9351 hr assumes a shape-dominated light curve. Our observations indicate that the light curve may in fact be dominated by a relatively bright spot with a period of 4.47 hr, i.e., half the previous value.

AB - Near-infrared 1-2 μm spectra of the Centaur 8405 Asbolus (1995 GO) have been obtained using the Hubble Space Telescope near-infrared camera and multiobject spectrometer. Strong and variable absorption features indicate a significantly inhomogeneous surface characterized by water ice mixed with additional unknown constituents. Over a 1.7 hr interval, the observed spectra varied from a nearly featureless spectrum to a very complicated absorption spectrum, and the integrated flux varied in a manner consistent with previous light-curve observations. The accepted rotation period of 8.9351 hr assumes a shape-dominated light curve. Our observations indicate that the light curve may in fact be dominated by a relatively bright spot with a period of 4.47 hr, i.e., half the previous value.

KW - Infrared: solar system

KW - Kuiper Belt

KW - Oort Cloud

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JO - Astrophysical Journal

JF - Astrophysical Journal

IS - 2 PART 2

ER -

Compositional variation on the surface of Centaur 8405 Asbolus

Abstract

Keywords

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