Colors and Spectra of Kuiper Belt Objects

Abstract

We present new measurements of the optical colors of Kuiper Belt Objects, principally from the Keck 10-m telescope. The measurements confirm the existence of a wide spread in the B-V, V-R and R-I color indices (Luu and Jewitt 1996). Relative to the sun, the Kuiper Belt Objects exhibit reflected colors from nearly neutral to very red. The optical and optical-infrared (V-J) color indices are mutually correlated, showing the presence of a single reddening agent from 0.45 micron to 1.2 micron. On the other hand, we find no evidence for linear correlations between the color and absolute magnitude (a proxy for size), instantaneous heliocentric distance, semi-major axis, or with any other orbital property. In this regard, the Kuiper Belt Objects differ from the main-belt asteroids in which strong radial color gradients exist. We find no statistically significant evidence for bimodal or other non-uniform color distributions, either in our data, or in data previously reported to show such evidence. The impact resurfacing hypothesis is re-examined in the light of the new color data and is rejected as the primary cause of the observed color dispersion. We also present new near-infrared reflection spectra of 1993 SC, 1996 TS_66, 1999 DE_9 and 2000 EB_173, taken at the Keck and Subaru telescopes. These spectra, combined with others from the published literature, provide independent evidence for compositional diversity in the Kuiper Belt. Objects 2000 EB_173, 1993 SC, and 1996 TS_66 are spectrally bland while 1999 DE_9 shows solid-state absorption bands.