Water ice in 2060 Chiron and its implications for Centaurs and Kuiper belt objects

Jane X. Luu; David C. Jewitt; Chad Trujillo

doi:10.1086/312536

Water ice in 2060 Chiron and its implications for Centaurs and Kuiper belt objects

Jane X. Luu, David C. Jewitt, Chad Trujillo

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

68 Scopus citations

Abstract

We report the detection of water ice in the Centaur 2060 Chiron, based on near-infrared spectra (1.0-2.5 μm) taken with the 3.8 m United Kingdom Infrared Telescope and the 10 m Keck Telescope. The appearance of this ice is correlated with the recent decline in Chiron's cometary activity: the decrease in the coma cross section allows previously hidden solid-state surface features to be seen. We predict that water ice is ubiquitous among Centaurs and Kuiper Belt objects, but its surface coverage varies from object to object and thus determines its detectability and the occurrence of cometary activity.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	L151-L154
Journal	Astrophysical Journal
Volume	531
Issue number	2 PART 2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1086/312536
State	Published - Mar 10 2000
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Comets: General
Kuiper belt objects
Solar system: Formation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

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10.1086/312536

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title = "Water ice in 2060 Chiron and its implications for Centaurs and Kuiper belt objects",

abstract = "We report the detection of water ice in the Centaur 2060 Chiron, based on near-infrared spectra (1.0-2.5 μm) taken with the 3.8 m United Kingdom Infrared Telescope and the 10 m Keck Telescope. The appearance of this ice is correlated with the recent decline in Chiron's cometary activity: the decrease in the coma cross section allows previously hidden solid-state surface features to be seen. We predict that water ice is ubiquitous among Centaurs and Kuiper Belt objects, but its surface coverage varies from object to object and thus determines its detectability and the occurrence of cometary activity.",

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T1 - Water ice in 2060 Chiron and its implications for Centaurs and Kuiper belt objects

AU - Luu, Jane X.

AU - Jewitt, David C.

AU - Trujillo, Chad

PY - 2000/3/10

Y1 - 2000/3/10

N2 - We report the detection of water ice in the Centaur 2060 Chiron, based on near-infrared spectra (1.0-2.5 μm) taken with the 3.8 m United Kingdom Infrared Telescope and the 10 m Keck Telescope. The appearance of this ice is correlated with the recent decline in Chiron's cometary activity: the decrease in the coma cross section allows previously hidden solid-state surface features to be seen. We predict that water ice is ubiquitous among Centaurs and Kuiper Belt objects, but its surface coverage varies from object to object and thus determines its detectability and the occurrence of cometary activity.

AB - We report the detection of water ice in the Centaur 2060 Chiron, based on near-infrared spectra (1.0-2.5 μm) taken with the 3.8 m United Kingdom Infrared Telescope and the 10 m Keck Telescope. The appearance of this ice is correlated with the recent decline in Chiron's cometary activity: the decrease in the coma cross section allows previously hidden solid-state surface features to be seen. We predict that water ice is ubiquitous among Centaurs and Kuiper Belt objects, but its surface coverage varies from object to object and thus determines its detectability and the occurrence of cometary activity.

KW - Comets: General

KW - Kuiper belt objects

KW - Solar system: Formation

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SP - L151-L154

JO - Astrophysical Journal

JF - Astrophysical Journal

IS - 2 PART 2

ER -

Water ice in 2060 Chiron and its implications for Centaurs and Kuiper belt objects

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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