TNOs are Cool: A Survey of the Transneptunian Region - Archive ouverte HAL Accéder directement au contenu
Article Dans Une Revue Earth, Moon, and Planets Année : 2009

TNOs are Cool: A Survey of the Transneptunian Region

Jonathan Horner
  • Fonction : Auteur

Résumé

Over one thousand objects have so far been discovered orbiting beyond Neptune. These trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs) represent the primitive remnants of the planetesimal disk from which the planets formed and are perhaps analogous to the unseen dust parent-bodies in debris disks observed around other main-sequence stars. The dynamical and physical properties of these bodies provide unique and important constraints on formation and evolution models of the Solar System. While the dynamical architecture in this region (also known as the Kuiper Belt) is becoming relatively clear, the physical properties of the objects are still largely unexplored. In particular, fundamental parameters such as size, albedo, density and thermal properties are difficult to measure. Measurements of thermal emission, which peaks at far-IR wavelengths, offer the best means available to determine the physical properties. While Spitzer has provided some results, notably revealing a large albedo diversity in this population, the increased sensitivity of Herschel and its superior wavelength coverage should permit profound advances in the field. Within our accepted project we propose to perform radiometric measurements of 139 objects, including 25 known multiple systems. When combined with measurements of the dust population beyond Neptune (e.g. from the New Horizons mission to Pluto), our results will provide a benchmark for understanding the Solar debris disk, and extra-solar ones as well.
Fichier principal
Vignette du fichier
s11038-009-9307-x.pdf (517.84 Ko) Télécharger le fichier
Origine : Fichiers éditeurs autorisés sur une archive ouverte

Dates et versions

hal-03733110 , version 1 (09-09-2022)

Licence

Paternité - Pas d'utilisation commerciale

Identifiants

Citer

Thomas G. Müller, Emmanuel Lellouch, Hermann Böhnhardt, John A. Stansberry, Maria Antonella Barucci, et al.. TNOs are Cool: A Survey of the Transneptunian Region. Earth, Moon, and Planets, 2009, 105 (105), pp.209-219. ⟨10.1007/s11038-009-9307-x⟩. ⟨hal-03733110⟩
54 Consultations
9 Téléchargements

Altmetric

Partager

Gmail Facebook X LinkedIn More