Water ice on the satellite of kuiper belt object 2003 el61

@article{Barkume2006WaterIO,
  title={Water ice on the satellite of kuiper belt object 2003 el61},
  author={Kristina M. Barkume and Michael E. Brown and Emily L. Schaller},
  journal={The Astrophysical Journal},
  year={2006},
  volume={640}
}
We have obtained a near-infrared spectrum of the brightest satellite of the large Kuiper Belt object 2003 EL_(61). The spectrum has absorption features at 1.5 and 2.0 μm, indicating that water ice is present on the surface. We find that the satellite's absorption lines are much deeper than water ice features typically found on Kuiper Belt objects. We argue that the unusual spectrum indicates that the satellite was likely formed by impact and not by capture. 
View PDF on arXiv
60 Citations
Highly Influential Citations
7
Background Citations
29
Results Citations
1

Figures from this paper

60 Citations

Citation Type

Citation Type

OPTICAL SPECTROSCOPY OF THE LARGE KUIPER BELT OBJECTS 136472 (2005 FY9) AND 136108 (2003 EL61)
We present high signal precision optical reflectance spectra of the large Kuiper Belt objects 2005 FY9 and 2003 EL61. The spectrum of 2005 FY9 exhibits strong CH4 ice bands. A comparison between the… Expand
Water Ice in the Kuiper Belt
We examine a large collection of low-resolution near-infrared spectra of Kuiper Belt objects (KBOs) and centaurs in an attempt to understand the presence of water ice in the Kuiper Belt. We find that… Expand
Detection of Additional Members of the 2003 EL61 Collisional Family via Near-Infrared Spectroscopy
We have acquired near-infrared spectra of Kuiper Belt objects 2003 UZ117, 2005 CB79, and 2004 SB60 with NIRC on the Keck I telescope. These objects are dynamically close to the core of the 2003 EL61… Expand
Near-Infrared Spectroscopy of Charon: Possible Evidence for Cryovolcanism on Kuiper Belt Objects
We present the first reported adaptive optics spectra of Charon in the H and K bands, which examine the anti-Pluto and sub-Pluto hemispheres. The ice temperature is estimated at 40-50 K, based on the… Expand
High-contrast observations of (136108) Haumea. A crystalline water-ice multiple system
Context. The trans-Neptunian region of the Solar System is populated by a wide variety of icy bodies showing great diversity in orbital behavior, size, surface color, and composition. One can also… Expand
Water on Small Solar System Bodies
When examining the outer parts of the solar system water becomes more and more abundant. The water reservoir on the Erath and other terrestrial planets might have been supplied by the impact of these… Expand
Composition of Pluto’s small satellites: Analysis of New Horizons spectral images
Abstract On July 14, 2015, NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft encountered the Pluto-system. Using the near-infrared spectral imager, New Horizons obtained the first spectra of Nix, Hydra, and Kerberos… Expand
Surface Properties of Kuiper Belt Objects and Centaurs
The outer solar system is inhabited by a population of small solar system bodies called Kuiper belt Objects (KBOs) and Centaurs. I present a survey of visible and near infrared (NIR) spectra of the… Expand
Comparative Kbology: Using Surface Spectra of Triton, Pluto, and Charon to Investigate Atmospheric, Surface, and Interior Processes on Kuiper Belt Objects
We present the results of an investigation to determine the longitudinal (zonal) distributions and temporal evolution of ices on the surface of Triton. Between 2002 and 2014, we obtained 63 nights of… Expand
A collisional family of icy objects in the Kuiper belt
TLDR
The discovery of a family of Kuiper belt objects with surface properties and orbits that are nearly identical to those of 2003 EL61, which appears to be fragments of the ejected ice mantle of2003 EL61. Expand
...
1
2
3
4
5
...

References

SHOWING 1-10 OF 21 REFERENCES
Near-Infrared Spectroscopy of the Bright Kuiper Belt Object 2000 EB173
We have obtained a near-infrared spectrum of the bright Kuiper Belt object 2000 EB173; the spectrum appears featureless. The spectrum has a sufficient signal-to-noise ratio to rule out the 1.5 and… Expand
Evidence for crystalline water and ammonia ices on Pluto's satellite charon.
Observations have resolved the satellite Charon from its parent planet Pluto, giving separate spectra of the two objects from 1.0 to 2.5 micrometers. The spectrum of Charon is found to be different… Expand
Satellites of the largest Kuiper Belt objects
We have searched the four brightest objects in the Kuiper Belt for the presence of satellites using the newly commissioned Keck Observatory Laser Guide Star Adaptive Optics system. Satellites are… Expand
Water ice on the surface of the large TNO 2004 DW
We have obtained visible and near infrared spectra of the Trans Neptunian object 2004 DW, a few days after its discovery, at the Telescopio Nazionale Galileo (TNG). 2004 DW belongs to the plutino… Expand
Near-Infrared Spectroscopy of Centaurs and Irregular Satellites
We have obtained near-infrared spectra of the four brightest known Centaurs and of five irregular satellites of giant planets. Many of these objects show 1.5 and 2.0 μm absorption bands indicative of… Expand
Photometric Observations Constraining the Size, Shape, and Albedo of 2003 EL61, a Rapidly Rotating, Pluto-sized Object in the Kuiper Belt
We present measurements at optical wavelengths of the spectral reflectance, rotational light curve, and solar phase curve of 2003 EL61. With apparent visual magnitude 17.5 at 51 AU from the Sun, this… Expand
Searching for water ice on 47171 1999 TC36, 1998 SG35, and 2000 QC243: ESO large program on TNOs and centaurs
Transneptunian objects and Centaurs are supposed to be among the most pristine bodies of the Solar System. To investigate their physical properties and their surface composition, an ESO large program… Expand
Keck Observatory Laser Guide Star Adaptive Optics Discovery and Characterization of a Satellite to the Large Kuiper Belt Object 2003 EL 61
The newly commissioned laser guide star adaptive optics system at Keck Observatory has been used to discover and characterize the orbit of a satellite to the bright Kuiper Belt object 2003 EL_(61).… Expand
The methane ice rich surface of large TNO 2005 FY9: a Pluto-twin in the trans-neptunian belt?
Context. The population of known large trans-neptunian objects (TNOs) is growing very fast and the knowledge of their physical properties is a key issue to understand the origin and evolution of the… Expand
A spectroscopic study of the surfaces of Saturn's large satellites: H 2 O ice, tholins, and minor constituents
Abstract We present spectra of Saturn's icy satellites Mimas, Enceladus, Tethys, Dione, Rhea, and Hyperion, 1.0–2.5 μm, with data extending to shorter (Mimas and Enceladus) and longer (Rhea and… Expand
...
1
2
3
...