TY - JOUR
T1 - Constraints on the Density and Internal Strength of 1I/'Oumuamua
AU - McNeill, Andrew
AU - Trilling, David E.
AU - Mommert, Michael
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2018. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.
PY - 2018/4/10
Y1 - 2018/4/10
N2 - 1I/'Oumuamua was discovered by the Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Response System (Pan-STARRS 1) on 2017 October 19. Unlike all previously discovered minor planets, this object was determined to have eccentricity e > 1.0, suggesting an interstellar origin. Since this discovery and within the limited window of opportunity, several photometric and spectroscopic studies of the object have been made. Using the measured light curve amplitudes and rotation periods we find that, under the assumption of a triaxial ellipsoid, a density range 1500 < ρ < 2800 kg m-3 matches the observations and no significant cohesive strength is required. We also determine that an aspect ratio of 6 ± 1:1 is most likely after accounting for phase-Angle effects and considering the potential effect of surface properties. This elongation is still remarkable, but less than some other estimates.
AB - 1I/'Oumuamua was discovered by the Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Response System (Pan-STARRS 1) on 2017 October 19. Unlike all previously discovered minor planets, this object was determined to have eccentricity e > 1.0, suggesting an interstellar origin. Since this discovery and within the limited window of opportunity, several photometric and spectroscopic studies of the object have been made. Using the measured light curve amplitudes and rotation periods we find that, under the assumption of a triaxial ellipsoid, a density range 1500 < ρ < 2800 kg m-3 matches the observations and no significant cohesive strength is required. We also determine that an aspect ratio of 6 ± 1:1 is most likely after accounting for phase-Angle effects and considering the potential effect of surface properties. This elongation is still remarkable, but less than some other estimates.
KW - asteroids: individual (1I/Ouamuamua) - techniques: photometric
KW - methods: statistical - minor planets
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U2 - 10.3847/2041-8213/aab9ab
DO - 10.3847/2041-8213/aab9ab
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85045836714
SN - 2041-8205
VL - 857
JO - Astrophysical Journal Letters
JF - Astrophysical Journal Letters
IS - 1
M1 - L1
ER -