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arXiv · 1008.1077

On the Detection of Two New Transneptunian Binaries from the CFEPS Kuiper Belt Survey

H. -W. Lin·J. J. Kavelaars·W. -H. Ip·B. J. Gladman·J. M. Petit·R. L. Jones·Joel Wm. Parker
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Abstract

We report here the discovery of an new near-equal mass Trans-Neptunian Binaries (TNBs) L5c02 and the and the putative detection of a second TNB (L4k12) among the year two and three detections of the Canada-France-Eclipic Plane Survey (CFEPS). These new binaries (internal designation L4k12 and L5c02) have moderate separations of 0.4" and 0.6" respectively. The follow-up observation confirmed the binarity of L5c02, but L4k12 are still lack of more followup observations. L4k12 has a heliocentric orbital inclination of ~ 35?degree, marking this system as having the highest heliocentric orbital inclination among known near-equal mass binaries. Both systems are members of the classical main Kuiper belt population. Based on the sample of objects searched we determine that the fraction of near-equal mass wide binaries with separations > 0.4" is 1.5% to 20% in the cold main classical Kuiper belt and, if our detection the binarity L4k12 holds, 3% to 43% in the hot main classical objects are binary. In this manuscript we describe our detection process, the sample of objects surveyed, our confirmation observations.

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H. -W. Lin, J. J. Kavelaars, W. -H. Ip, B. J. Gladman, J. M. Petit, R. L. Jones, Joel Wm. Parker. 2010-08-05. On the Detection of Two New Transneptunian Binaries from the CFEPS Kuiper Belt Survey. https://doi.org/10.1086/656358

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