Population and size distribution of small Jovian Trojan asteroids

David C. Jewitt; Chadwick A. Trujillo; Jane X. Luu

doi:10.1086/301453

Population and size distribution of small Jovian Trojan asteroids

David C. Jewitt, Chadwick A. Trujillo, Jane X. Luu

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129 Scopus citations

Abstract

We present a study of Jovian Trojan objects detected serendipitously during the course of a sky survey conducted at the University of Hawaii 2.2 m telescope. We used a 8192 × 8192 pixel charge-coupled device (CCD) mosaic to observe 20 deg² at locations spread over the L4 Lagrangian swarm and reached a limiting magnitude V = 22.5 (50% of maximum detection efficiency). Ninety-three Jovian Trojans were detected with radii 2 km ≤ r ≤ 20 km (assumed visual albedo 0.04). Their differential magnitude distribution has a slope of 0.40 ± 0.05, corresponding to a power-law size distribution index 3.0 ± 0.3 (1 σ). The total number of L4 Trojans with radii ≥1 km is of order 1.6 × 10⁵, and their combined mass (dominated by the largest objects) is ∼10^-4 M_Earth. The bias-corrected mean inclination is 13°.7 ± 0°.5. We also discuss the size and spatial distribution of the L4 swarm.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	1140-1147
Number of pages	8
Journal	Astronomical Journal
Volume	120
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1086/301453
State	Published - Aug 2000
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Comets: general
Minor planets, asteroids

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

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10.1086/301453

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title = "Population and size distribution of small Jovian Trojan asteroids",

abstract = "We present a study of Jovian Trojan objects detected serendipitously during the course of a sky survey conducted at the University of Hawaii 2.2 m telescope. We used a 8192 × 8192 pixel charge-coupled device (CCD) mosaic to observe 20 deg2 at locations spread over the L4 Lagrangian swarm and reached a limiting magnitude V = 22.5 (50% of maximum detection efficiency). Ninety-three Jovian Trojans were detected with radii 2 km ≤ r ≤ 20 km (assumed visual albedo 0.04). Their differential magnitude distribution has a slope of 0.40 ± 0.05, corresponding to a power-law size distribution index 3.0 ± 0.3 (1 σ). The total number of L4 Trojans with radii ≥1 km is of order 1.6 × 105, and their combined mass (dominated by the largest objects) is ∼10-4 MEarth. The bias-corrected mean inclination is 13°.7 ± 0°.5. We also discuss the size and spatial distribution of the L4 swarm.",

keywords = "Comets: general, Minor planets, asteroids",

author = "Jewitt, {David C.} and Trujillo, {Chadwick A.} and Luu, {Jane X.}",

year = "2000",

month = aug,

doi = "10.1086/301453",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "120",

pages = "1140--1147",

journal = "Astronomical Journal",

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publisher = "American Astronomical Society",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Population and size distribution of small Jovian Trojan asteroids

AU - Jewitt, David C.

AU - Trujillo, Chadwick A.

AU - Luu, Jane X.

PY - 2000/8

Y1 - 2000/8

N2 - We present a study of Jovian Trojan objects detected serendipitously during the course of a sky survey conducted at the University of Hawaii 2.2 m telescope. We used a 8192 × 8192 pixel charge-coupled device (CCD) mosaic to observe 20 deg2 at locations spread over the L4 Lagrangian swarm and reached a limiting magnitude V = 22.5 (50% of maximum detection efficiency). Ninety-three Jovian Trojans were detected with radii 2 km ≤ r ≤ 20 km (assumed visual albedo 0.04). Their differential magnitude distribution has a slope of 0.40 ± 0.05, corresponding to a power-law size distribution index 3.0 ± 0.3 (1 σ). The total number of L4 Trojans with radii ≥1 km is of order 1.6 × 105, and their combined mass (dominated by the largest objects) is ∼10-4 MEarth. The bias-corrected mean inclination is 13°.7 ± 0°.5. We also discuss the size and spatial distribution of the L4 swarm.

AB - We present a study of Jovian Trojan objects detected serendipitously during the course of a sky survey conducted at the University of Hawaii 2.2 m telescope. We used a 8192 × 8192 pixel charge-coupled device (CCD) mosaic to observe 20 deg2 at locations spread over the L4 Lagrangian swarm and reached a limiting magnitude V = 22.5 (50% of maximum detection efficiency). Ninety-three Jovian Trojans were detected with radii 2 km ≤ r ≤ 20 km (assumed visual albedo 0.04). Their differential magnitude distribution has a slope of 0.40 ± 0.05, corresponding to a power-law size distribution index 3.0 ± 0.3 (1 σ). The total number of L4 Trojans with radii ≥1 km is of order 1.6 × 105, and their combined mass (dominated by the largest objects) is ∼10-4 MEarth. The bias-corrected mean inclination is 13°.7 ± 0°.5. We also discuss the size and spatial distribution of the L4 swarm.

KW - Comets: general

KW - Minor planets, asteroids

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U2 - 10.1086/301453

DO - 10.1086/301453

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EP - 1147

JO - Astronomical Journal

JF - Astronomical Journal

IS - 2

ER -

Population and size distribution of small Jovian Trojan asteroids

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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