arXiv subjects

Keith S. Noll

Publications and source records attributed to Keith S. Noll.

29 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2016

Rotational properties of the Haumea family members and candidates: Short-term variability

Haumea is one of the most interesting and intriguing transneptunian objects (TNOs). It is a large, bright, fast rotator, and its spectrum indicates nearly pure water ice on the surface. It has at least two satellites and a dynamically related family of more than ten TNOs with very similar proper orbital parameters and similar surface properties. The Haumean family is the only one currently known in the transneptunian belt. Various models have been proposed but the formation of the family remains poorly understood. In this work, we have investigated the rotational properties of the family members and unconfirmed family candidates with short-term variability studies, and report the most complete review to date. We present results based on five years of observations and report the short-term variability of five family members, and seven candidates. The mean rotational periods, from Maxwellian fits to the frequency distributions, are 6.27+/-1.19 h for the confirmed family members, 6.44+/-1.16 h for the candidates, and 7.65+/-0.54 h for other TNOs (without relation to the family). According to our study, there is a suggestion that Haumea family members rotate faster than other TNOs, however, the sample of family member is still too limited for a secure conclusion. We also highlight the fast rotation of 2002 GH32. This object has a 0.36+/-0.02 mag amplitude lightcurve and a rotational period of about 3.98 h. Assuming 2002 GH32 is a triaxial object in hydrostatic equilibrium, we derive a lower limit to the density of 2.56 g cm^-3. This density is similar to Haumea's and much more dense than other small TNO densities.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2014

New Horizons: Long-Range Kuiper Belt Targets Observed by the Hubble Space Telescope

We report on Hubble Space Telescope (HST) observations of three Kuiper Belt Objects (KBOs), discovered in our dedicated ground-based search campaign, that are candidates for long-range observations from the New Horizons spacecraft: 2011 JY31, 2011 HZ102, and 2013 LU35. Astrometry with HST enables both current and future critical accuracy improvements for orbit precision, required for possible New Horizons observations, beyond what can be obtained from the ground. Photometric colors of all three objects are red, typical of the Cold Classical dynamical population within which they reside; they are also the faintest KBOs to have had their colors measured. None are observed to be binary with HST above separations of ~0.02 arcsec (~700 km at 44 AU) and Δm less than or equal to 0.5.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2010

HST Astrometry of Transneptunian Objects

We present 1428 individual astrometric measurements of 256 Transneptunian objects made with HST. The observations were collected over three years with two instruments, the Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 and the Advanced Camera for Surveys High Resolution Camera, as part of four HST programs. We briefly describe the data and our analysis procedures. The submission of these measurements to the Minor Planet Center increased the individual arc length of objects by 1.83 days to 8.11 years. Of the 256 total objects, 62 (24.2%) had arc length increases \ge 3 years. The arc length for 60 objects (23.4%) was increased by a factor of two or greater.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2008

Evidence for Two Populations of Classical Transneptunian Objects: The Strong Inclination Dependence of Classical Binaries

We have searched 101 Classical transneptunian objects for companions with the Hubble Space Telescope. Of these, at least 21 are binary. The heliocentric inclinations of the objects we observed range from 0.6-34 degrees. We find a very strong anticorrelation of binaries with inclination. Of the 58 targets that have inclinations of less than 5.5 degrees, 17 are binary, a binary fraction of 29 +7/-6%. All 17 are similar-brightness systems. On the contrary, only 4 of the 42 objects with inclinations greater than 5.5 degrees have satellites and only 1 of these is a similar-brightness binary. This striking dichotomy appears to agree with other indications that the low eccentricity, non-resonant Classical transneptunian objects include two overlapping populations with significantly different physical properties and dynamical histories.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2007

Binaries in the Kuiper Belt

Binaries have played a crucial role many times in the history of modern astronomy and are doing so again in the rapidly evolving exploration of the Kuiper Belt. The large fraction of transneptunian objects that are binary or multiple, 48 such systems are now known, has been an unanticipated windfall. Separations and relative magnitudes measured in discovery images give important information on the statistical properties of the binary population that can be related to competing models of binary formation. Orbits, derived for 13 systems, provide a determination of the system mass. Masses can be used to derive densities and albedos when an independent size measurement is available. Angular momenta and relative sizes of the majority of binaries are consistent with formation by dynamical capture. The small satellites of the largest transneptunian objects, in contrast, are more likely formed from collisions. Correlations of the fraction of binaries with different dynamical populations or with other physical variables have the potential to constrain models of the origin and evolution of the transneptunian population as a whole. Other means of studying binaries have only begun to be exploited, including lightcurve, color, and spectral data. Because of the several channels for obtaining unique physical information, it is already clear that binaries will emerge as one of the most useful tools for unraveling the many complexities of transneptunian space.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2006

NICMOS Status

We provide an overview of the most important calibration aspects of the NICMOS instrument on board of HST. We describe the performance of the instrument after the installation of the NICMOS Cooling System, and show that the behavior of the instrument has become very stable and predictable. We detail the improvements made to the NICMOS pipeline and outline plans for future developments. The derivation of the absolute photometric zero-point calibration is described in detail. Finally, we describe and quantify a newly discovered count-rate dependent non-linearity in the NICMOS cameras. This new non-linearity is distinctly different from the total count dependent non-linearity that is well known for near-infrared detectors. We show that the non-linearity has a power law behavior, with pixels with high system, or vice versa, pixels with low count rate detecting slightly less than expected. The effect has a wavelength dependence with observations at the shortest wavelengths being the most affected (~0.05-0.1 mag per dex flux change at ~1 micron, 0.03 mag per dex at 1.6 micron).

astro-ph↗

arXiv2006

Solar System Binaries

The discovery of binaries in each of the major populations of minor bodies in the solar system is propelling a rapid growth of heretofore unattainable physical information. The availability of mass and density constraints for minor bodies opens the door to studies of internal structure, comparisons with meteorite samples, and correlations between bulk- physical and surface-spectral properties. The number of known binaries is now more than 70 and is growing rapidly. The relative sizes and separations of binaries in the different minor body populations point to more than one mechanism for forming bound pairs. Collisions appear to play a major role in the Main Belt. Rotational and/or tidal fission may be important in the Near Earth population. For the Kuiper Belt, capture in multi-body interactions may be the preferred formation mechanism. High angular resolution observations from space and from the ground are critical for detection of the relatively distant binaries in the Main Belt and the Kuiper Belt. Radar has been the most productive method for detection of Near Earth binaries. Lightcurve analysis is an independent technique that is capable of exploring phase space inaccessible to direct observations. Finally, spacecraft flybys have played a crucial paradigm-changing role with discoveries that unlocked this now-burgeoning field.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2005

Infrared Spectroscopy of U Equulei's Warm Circumstellar Gas

Medium and high resolution spectroscopy of U Equulei from 1 to 4 microns during 1997-2003 has revealed information about its unusual circumstellar envelope, observed previously at optical and radio wavelengths. Strong absorption bands of H2O and of CO dominate the 1-4um spectrum. The gas has a mean temperature of 600 K and 12C/13C =< 10. The CO 2-0 line profiles and velocities imply no net ejection or infall and indicate either rapid radial gas motions being seen along a narrow continuum beam, or absorption by orbiting gas that is nearly coincident with a highly extended continuum source. The gas could be located in a disk-like structure. The observed high column densities of warm CO and H2 normally would be associated with sufficient dust to completely obscure the star at optical wavelengths. The observations thus indicate either a highly abnormal gas-to-dust ratio, consistent with the earlier optical observation of abundant refractory metal oxides in the circumstellar gas, or peculiar geometry and/or illumination.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2004

The Orbit and Albedo of Transneptunian Binary 1997 CQ29

We have measured the separations and position angles of the two components of the binary transneptunian object 1997 CQ29 at eight epochs. From these data we are able to constrain the orbit and mass of this binary system. The best fitting orbit has an orbital period of P = 312+/-3 days. The orbital eccentricity is e = 0.45+/-0.03 and the semimajor axis is a = 8,010+/-80 km. The mass of the system is surprisingly low at 0.42+/-0.02 x 10^18 kg. To account for the observed brightness consistent with the low mass and a range of plausible densities, the geometric albedo must be very high; for an assumed density of 1000 kg m^-3 we find a red geometric albedo of p_R = 0.37, an order of magnitude higher than has been generally assumed for transneptunian objects. If objects with comparably high albedos are common in the Kuiper belt, estimates of the mass of the belt must be significantly reduced. The semimajor axis of 1997 CQ29's orbit is 2.8% of the Hill radius of the primary, a value strikingly similar to this same ratio in other transneptunian binaries, main-belt binaries, and regular satellite systems.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2002

Detection of Two Binary Trans-Neptunian Objects, 1997 CQ29 and 2000 CF105, with the Hubble Space Telescope

Images of the trans-Neptunian objects 1997 CQ29 and 2000 CF105 obtained with the Hubble Space Telescope's WFPC2 camera show them to be binary. The two components of 1997 CQ29 were separated in our images by 0.20 arcsec in November 2001 and by 0.33 arcsec in June/July 2002. The corresponding minimum physical distances are 6100 km and 10,200 km. The companion to 2000 CF105 was 0.78 arcsec from the primary, at least 23,400 km. Six other objects in the trans-Neptunian region, including Pluto and its moon Charon, are known to be binaries; 1997 CQ29 and 2000 CF105 are the seventh and eighth known pair. Binarity appears to be a not-uncommon characteristic in this region of the solar system, with detectable companions present in 4% of the objects we have examined.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2000

The Onset of Methane in L Dwarfs

We have detected weak absorption features produced by the strong nu(3) methane band at 3.3 microns in two L dwarfs, 2MASSW J1507476-162738 and 2MASSI J0825196+211552, classified by Kirkpatrick et al. (2000) as spectral types L5 and L7.5 respectively. These absorptions occur in objects warmer than any in which methane previously has been detected, and mark the first appearance of methane in the ultracool star-to-brown dwarf spectral sequence.

astro-ph↗