Compositional study of trans-neptunian objects at λ > 2.2μm

E. Fernández-Valenzuela, N. Pinilla-Alonso, J. Stansberry, J. P. Emery, W. Perkins, C. Van Laerhoven, B. J. Gladman, W. Fraser, D. Cruikshank, E. Lellouch, T. G. Müller, W. M. Grundy, D. Trilling, Y. Fernandez, C. Dalle Ore

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

Using data from the Infrared Array Camera on the Spitzer Space Telescope, we present photometric observations of a sample of 100 trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs) beyond 2.2 μm. These observations, collected with two broadband filters centered at 3.6 and 4.5 μm, were done in order to study the surface composition of TNOs, which are too faint to obtain spectroscopic measurements. With this aim, we have developed a method for the identification of different materials that are found on the surfaces of TNOs. In our sample, we detected objects with colors that are consistent with the presence of small amounts of water, and we were able to distinguish between surfaces that are predominantly composed of complex organics and amorphous silicates. We found that 86% of our sample have characteristics that are consistent with a certain amount of water ice, and the most common composition (73% of the objects) is a mixture of water ice, amorphous silicates, and complex organics. Twentythree percent of our sample may include other ices, such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, methane, or methanol. Additionally, only small objects seem to have surfaces dominated by silicates. This method is a unique tool for the identification of complex organics and to obtain the surface composition of extremely faint objects. Furthermore, this method will be beneficial when using the James Webb Space Telescope for differentiating groups within the trans-Neptunian population.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number10
JournalPlanetary Science Journal
Volume2
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2021

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Geophysics
  • Earth and Planetary Sciences (miscellaneous)
  • Space and Planetary Science

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