The mutual orbit, mass, and density of the large transneptunian binary system Varda and Ilmarë

W. M. Grundy; S. B. Porter; S. D. Benecchi; H. G. Roe; K. S. Noll; C. A. Trujillo; A. Thirouin; J. A. Stansberry; E. Barker; H. F. Levison

doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2015.04.036

The mutual orbit, mass, and density of the large transneptunian binary system Varda and Ilmarë

W. M. Grundy, S. B. Porter, S. D. Benecchi, H. G. Roe, K. S. Noll, C. A. Trujillo, A. Thirouin, J. A. Stansberry, E. Barker, H. F. Levison

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

33 Scopus citations

Abstract

From observations by the Hubble Space Telescope, Keck II Telescope, and Gemini North Telescope, we have determined the mutual orbit of the large transneptunian object (174567) Varda and its satellite Ilmarë. These two objects orbit one another in a highly inclined, circular or near-circular orbit with a period of 5.75days and a semimajor axis of 4810km. This orbit reveals the system mass to be (2.664±0.064)×10²⁰kg, slightly greater than the mass of the second most massive main-belt asteroid (4) Vesta. The dynamical mass can in turn be combined with estimates of the surface area of the system from Herschel Space Telescope thermal observations to estimate a bulk density of 1.24-0.35+0.50g cm-3. Varda and Ilmarë both have colors similar to the combined colors of the system, B-V=0.886±0.025 and V-I=1.156±0.029.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	130-138
Number of pages	9
Journal	Icarus
Volume	257
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2015.04.036
State	Published - Sep 1 2015
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Astrometry
Hubble Space Telescope observations
Kuiper belt
Satellites, general
Trans-neptunian objects

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

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10.1016/j.icarus.2015.04.036

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title = "The mutual orbit, mass, and density of the large transneptunian binary system Varda and Ilmar{\"e}",

abstract = "From observations by the Hubble Space Telescope, Keck II Telescope, and Gemini North Telescope, we have determined the mutual orbit of the large transneptunian object (174567) Varda and its satellite Ilmar{\"e}. These two objects orbit one another in a highly inclined, circular or near-circular orbit with a period of 5.75days and a semimajor axis of 4810km. This orbit reveals the system mass to be (2.664±0.064)×1020kg, slightly greater than the mass of the second most massive main-belt asteroid (4) Vesta. The dynamical mass can in turn be combined with estimates of the surface area of the system from Herschel Space Telescope thermal observations to estimate a bulk density of 1.24-0.35+0.50g cm-3. Varda and Ilmar{\"e} both have colors similar to the combined colors of the system, B-V=0.886±0.025 and V-I=1.156±0.029.",

keywords = "Astrometry, Hubble Space Telescope observations, Kuiper belt, Satellites, general, Trans-neptunian objects",

author = "Grundy, {W. M.} and Porter, {S. B.} and Benecchi, {S. D.} and Roe, {H. G.} and Noll, {K. S.} and Trujillo, {C. A.} and A. Thirouin and Stansberry, {J. A.} and E. Barker and Levison, {H. F.}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2015 Elsevier Inc.",

year = "2015",

month = sep,

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doi = "10.1016/j.icarus.2015.04.036",

language = "English (US)",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - The mutual orbit, mass, and density of the large transneptunian binary system Varda and Ilmarë

AU - Grundy, W. M.

AU - Porter, S. B.

AU - Benecchi, S. D.

AU - Roe, H. G.

AU - Noll, K. S.

AU - Trujillo, C. A.

AU - Thirouin, A.

AU - Stansberry, J. A.

AU - Barker, E.

AU - Levison, H. F.

PY - 2015/9/1

Y1 - 2015/9/1

N2 - From observations by the Hubble Space Telescope, Keck II Telescope, and Gemini North Telescope, we have determined the mutual orbit of the large transneptunian object (174567) Varda and its satellite Ilmarë. These two objects orbit one another in a highly inclined, circular or near-circular orbit with a period of 5.75days and a semimajor axis of 4810km. This orbit reveals the system mass to be (2.664±0.064)×1020kg, slightly greater than the mass of the second most massive main-belt asteroid (4) Vesta. The dynamical mass can in turn be combined with estimates of the surface area of the system from Herschel Space Telescope thermal observations to estimate a bulk density of 1.24-0.35+0.50g cm-3. Varda and Ilmarë both have colors similar to the combined colors of the system, B-V=0.886±0.025 and V-I=1.156±0.029.

AB - From observations by the Hubble Space Telescope, Keck II Telescope, and Gemini North Telescope, we have determined the mutual orbit of the large transneptunian object (174567) Varda and its satellite Ilmarë. These two objects orbit one another in a highly inclined, circular or near-circular orbit with a period of 5.75days and a semimajor axis of 4810km. This orbit reveals the system mass to be (2.664±0.064)×1020kg, slightly greater than the mass of the second most massive main-belt asteroid (4) Vesta. The dynamical mass can in turn be combined with estimates of the surface area of the system from Herschel Space Telescope thermal observations to estimate a bulk density of 1.24-0.35+0.50g cm-3. Varda and Ilmarë both have colors similar to the combined colors of the system, B-V=0.886±0.025 and V-I=1.156±0.029.

KW - Astrometry

KW - Hubble Space Telescope observations

KW - Kuiper belt

KW - Satellites, general

KW - Trans-neptunian objects

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DO - 10.1016/j.icarus.2015.04.036

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JO - Icarus

JF - Icarus

ER -

The mutual orbit, mass, and density of the large transneptunian binary system Varda and Ilmarë

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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