Pedro Lacerda

Prograde rotation of protoplanets by accretion of pebbles in a gaseous environment

We perform hydrodynamical simulations of the accretion of pebbles and rocks on to protoplanets of a few hundred kilometres in radius, including two-way drag force coupling between particles and the protoplanetary disc gas. Particle streams interacting with the gas within the Hill sphere of the protoplanet spiral into a prograde circumplanetary disc. Material is accreted on to the protoplanet due to stirring by the turbulent surroundings. We speculate that the trend for prograde rotation among the largest asteroids is primordial and that protoplanets accreted 10-50 per cent of their mass from pebbles and rocks during the gaseous solar nebula phase. Our model also offers a possible explanation for the narrow range of spin periods observed among the largest bodies in the asteroid and trans-Neptunian belts, and predicts that 1000-km-scale Kuiper Belt objects that have not experienced giant impacts should preferentially spin in the prograde direction.

TNOs are Cool: A survey of the trans-Neptunian region

Aims. Trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs) are bodies populating the Kuiper belt and they are believed to retain the most pristine and least altered material of the solar system. The Herschel open time key programme entitled “TNOs are Cool: A survey of the trans-Neptunian region” has been awarded 373 h to investigate the albedo, size distribution and thermal properties of TNOs and Centaurs. Here we focus on the brightest targets observed by both the PACS and SPIRE multiband photometers: the dwarf planet Haumea, six TNOs (Huya, Orcus, Quaoar, Salacia, 2002 UX25, and 2002 TC302), and two Centaurs (Chiron and Chariklo).Methods. Flux densities are derived from PACS and SPIRE instruments using optimised data reduction methods. The spectral energy distribution obtained with the Herschel PACS and SPIRE instruments over 6 bands (centred at 70, 100, 160, 250, 350, and 500 μm), with Spitzer-MIPS at 23.7 and 71.4 μm, and with WISE at 11.6 and 22.1 μm in the case of 10199 Chariklo, has been modelled with the NEATM thermal model in order to derive the albedo, diameter, and beaming factor. For the Centaurs Chiron and Chariklo and for the 1000 km sized Orcus and Quaoar, a thermophysical model was also run to better constrain their thermal properties.Results. We derive the size, albedo, and thermal properties, including thermal inertia and surface emissivity, for the 9 TNOs and Centaurs. Several targets show a significant decrease in their spectral emissivity longwards of ~300 μm and especially at 500 μm. Using our size estimations and the mass values available in the literature, we also derive the bulk densities for the binaries Quaoar/Weywot (2.18-0.36+0.43 g/cm3), Orcus/Vanth (1.53-0.13+0.15 g/cm3), and Salacia/Actea (1.29-0.23+0.29 g/cm3). Quaoar’s density is similar to that of the other dwarf planets Pluto and Haumea, and its value implies high contents of refractory materials mixed with ices.

The return of activity in main-belt comet 133P/Elst–Pizarro

Comet 133P/Elst-Pizarro is the first known and currently best-characterized member of the main-belt comets, a recently identified class of objects that exhibit cometary activity but which are dynamically indistinguishable from main-belt asteroids. We report here on the results of a multiyear monitoring campaign from 2003 to 2008, and present observations of the return of activity in 2007. We find a pattern of activity consistent with seasonal activity modulation. Additionally, recomputation of phase function parameters using data in which 133P was inactive yields new IAU parameters of HR = 15.49 ± 0.05 mag and GR = 0.04 ± 0.05, and linear parameters of mR(1, 1, 0) = 15.80 ± 0.05 mag and ? = 0.041 ± 0.005 mag deg-1. The comparison between predicted magnitudes using these new parameters and the comets actual brightnesses during its 2002 and 2007 active periods reveals the presence of unresolved coma during both episodes, of the order of ~0.20 of the nucleus cross-section in 2002 and ~0.25 in 2007. Multifilter observations during 133Ps 2007 active outburst yield mean nucleus colours of B - V = 0.65 ± 0.03, V - R = 0.36 ± 0.01 and R - I = 0.32 ± 0.01, with no indication of significant rotational variation, and similar colours for the trail. Finally, while 133Ps trail appears shorter and weaker in 2007 than in 2002, other measures of activity strength such as dust velocity and coma contamination of nucleus photometry are found to remain approximately constant. We attribute changes in trail strength to the timing of observations and projection effects, thus finding no evidence of any substantial decrease in the activity strength between 2002 and 2007.

TNOs are Cool: A survey of the trans-Neptunian region III. Thermophysical properties of 90482 Orcus and 136472 Makemake

Context. The goal of the Herschel open time programme “TNOs are Cooll” is to derive the physical and thermal properties for a large sample of Centaurs, and trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs), including resonant, classical, detached and scattered disk objects. Aims. Based on observations of two targets we tried (i) to optimise the SPIRE observing technique for faint (close to the background confusion noise), slowly moving targets; (ii) to test different thermal model techniques; (iii) to determine radiometric diameter and albedo values; (iv) to compare with Spitzer results whenever possible. Methods. We obtained SPIRE photometry on two targets and PACS photometry on one of the targets. Results. We present results for the two targets, (90482) Orcus and (136472) Makemake, observed with SPIRE and for one of those targets, Makemake, observed with PACS. We adopt pv = 0.27 and D = 850 km as our best estimate of the albedo and diameter of Orcus using single terrain models. With two-terrain models for Makemake, the bright terrain is fitted by, 0.78 \textless pv \textless 0.90, and the dark terrain 0.02 \textless pv \textless 0.12, giving 1360 \textless D \textless 1480 km. Conclusions. A single terrain model was derived for Orcus through the SPIRE photometry combined with MIPS data. The Makemake data from MIPS, PACS and SPIRE combined are not compatible with a single terrain model, but can be modelled with a two-terrain fit. These science demonstration observations have shown that the scanning technique, which allows us to judge the influence of background structures, has proved to be a good basis for this key programme.

The bimodal colors of Centaurs and small Kuiper belt objects

Ever since the very first photometric studies of Centaurs and Kuiper belt objects (KBOs) their visible color distribution has been controversial. This controversy has triggered to a prolific debate on the origin of the surface colors of these distant icy objects of the solar system. Two scenarios have been proposed to interpret and explain the large variability of colors, hence surface composition. Are the colors mainly primordial and directly related to the formation region, or are they the result of surface evolution processes? To date, no mechanism has been found that successfully explains why Centaurs, which are escapees from the Kuiper belt, exhibit two distinct color groups, whereas KBOs do not. We readdress this issue using a carefully compiled set of B - R colors and H-R(alpha) magnitudes (as proxy for size) for 253 objects, including data for 10 new small objects. We find that the bimodal color distribution of Centaurs is a size-related phenomenon, common to both Centaurs and small KBOs, i.e. independent of dynamical classification. Furthermore, we find that large KBOs also have a bimodal distribution of surface colors, albeit distinct from the small objects and strongly dependent on the “Haumea collisional family” objects. When plotted in B - R, H-R(alpha) space, the colors of Centaurs and KBOs display a peculiar N shape.

Discovery of Main-Belt Comet P/2006 VW139 by Pan-STARRS1

The main-belt asteroid (300163) 2006 VW139 (later designated P/2006 VW139) was discovered to exhibit comet-like activity by the Pan-STARRS1 (PS1) survey telescope using automated point-spread-function analyses performed by PS1’s Moving Object Processing System. Deep follow-up observations show both a short (∼10 �� ) antisolar dust tail and a longer (∼60 �� ) dust trail aligned with the object’s orbit plane, similar to the morphology observed for another main-belt comet (MBC), P/2010 R2 (La Sagra), and other well-established comets, implying the action of a long-lived, sublimation-driven emission event. Photometry showing the brightness of the near-nucleus coma remaining constant over ∼30 days provides further evidence for this object’s cometary nature, suggesting it is in fact an MBC, and not a disrupted asteroid. A spectroscopic search for CN emission was unsuccessful, though we find an upper limit CN production rate of QCN 100 Myr, while a search for a potential asteroid family around the object reveals a cluster of 24 asteroids within a cutoff distance of 68 m s −1 .A t 70 ms −1 , this cluster merges with the Themis family, suggesting that it could be similar to the Beagle family to which another MBC, 133P/Elst-Pizarro, belongs.

Physical Properties of Main-belt Comet 176P/LINEAR

We present a physical characterization of comet 176P/LINEAR, the third discovered member of the new class of main-belt comets, which exhibit cometary activity but are dynamically indistinguishable from main-belt asteroids. Observations show the object exhibiting a fan-shaped tail for at least one month in late 2005, but then becoming inactive in early 2006. During this active period, we measure broadband colors of B − V = 0.63 ± 0.02, V − R = 0.35 ± 0.02, and R − I = 0.31 ± 0.04. Using data from when the object was observed to be inactive, we derive best-fit IAU phase function parameters of H = 15.10 ± 0.05 mag and G = 0.15 ± 0.10, and best-fit linear phase function parameters of m(1, 1, 0) = 15.35 ± 0.05 mag and β = 0.038 ± 0.005 mag deg −1 . From this baseline phase function, we find that 176P exhibits a mean photometric excess of ∼30% during its active period, implying an approximate total coma dust mass of Md ∼ (7.2 ± 3.6) × 10 4 kg. From inactive data obtained in early 2007, we find a rotation period of Prot = 22.23 ± 0.01 hr and a peak-to-trough photometric range of Δm ∼ 0.7 mag. Phasing our photometric data from 176P’s 2005 active period to this rotation period, we find that the nucleus exhibits a significantly smaller photometric range than in 2007 that cannot be accounted for by coma damping effects, and as such, are attributed by us to viewing geometry effects. A detailed analysis of these geometric effects showed that 176P is likely to be a highly elongated object with an axis ratio of 1.8 <b /a <2.1, an orbital obliquity of e ∼ 60 ◦ , and a solstice position at a true anomaly of νo = 20 ◦ ± 20 ◦ . Numerical modeling of 176P’s dust emission found that its activity can only be reproduced by asymmetric dust emission, such as a cometary jet. We find plausible fits to our observations using models assuming ∼10 μm dust particles continuously emitted over the period during which 176P was observed to be active, and a jet direction of 180 ◦ αjet 120 ◦ and δjet ≈− 60 ◦ . We do not find good fits to our observations using models of impulsive dust emission, i.e., what would be expected if 176P’s activity was an ejecta cloud resulting from an impact into non-volatile asteroid regolith. Since for a rotating body, the time-averaged direction of a non-equatorial jet is equivalent to the direction of the nearest rotation pole, we find an equivalent orbital obliquity of 50 ◦ e 75 ◦ , consistent with the results of our light curve analysis. Furthermore, the results of both our light curve analysis and dust modeling analysis are consistent with the seasonal heating hypothesis used to explain the modulation of 176P’s activity. Additional observations are highly encouraged to further characterize 176P’s active behavior as the object approaches perihelion on 2011 July 1.

THE OUTER SOLAR SYSTEM ORIGINS SURVEY. I. DESIGN AND FIRST-QUARTER DISCOVERIES

National Research Council of Canada; National Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada; Academia Sinica Postdoctoral Fellowship

Photometric study of Centaurs 10199 Chariklo (1997 CU26) and 1999 UG5

We present the results of visible broad band photometry of two Centaurs, 10199 Chariklo (1997 CU26) and 1999 UG5 from data obtained at the 1.52 meter telescope of the National Astronomical Observatory at Calar Alto, Spain, during 2 separate runs in April 1999 and February 2000 and at the 1.5 meter telescope of the Sierra Nevada Observatory, Spain, in March of 1999. For Chariklo, the absolute magnitudes determined from the February 2000 data are found to be higher by about 0.27 mag than the average in the 1999 run. This may indicate long period rotational variability and possibly a G parameter higher than the assumed value of 0.15. From the best sampled R-lightcurve obtained in the February 2000 run, no short term rotational variability was found. The V R colours for this object in all runs are similar to previously published values. For 1999 UG5, colours were found to be very red: B V =0 :88 0:18, V R =0 :60 0:08 and R I =0 :72 0:13. These results place this object in the group of the reddest known bodies in the Solar System. HR and HV are found to be 10:06 0:09 and 10:61 0:07 respectively, and its diameter is estimated to be on the order of 47 2k m.

Integral-field spectroscopy of (90482) Orcus-Vanth

Aims. We seek to constrain the surface composition of the trans-Neptunian object (90482) Orcus and its small satellite Vanth, as well as their mass and density. Methods. We acquired near-infrared spectra (1.4−2.4 μm) of (90482) Orcus and its companion Vanth using the adaptive-optics-fed integral-field spectrograph SINFONI mounted on Yepun/UT4 at the European Southern Observatory Very Large Telescope. We took advantage of a very favorable appulse (separation of only 4 �� ) between Orcus and the UCAC2 29643541 star (mR = 11.6) to use the adaptive optics mode of SINFONI, allowing both components to be spatially resolved and Vanth colors to be extracted independently from Orcus. Results. The spectrum of Orcus we obtain has the highest signal-to-noise ratio to date, and we confirm the presence of H2 Oi ce in crystalline form, together with the presence of an absorption band at 2.2 μm. We set an upper limit of about 2% to the presence of methane, and 5% for ethane. Since the methane alone cannot account for the 2.2 μm band, the presence of ammonia is suggested to the level of a couple of percent. The colors of Vanth are found to be slightly redder than those of Orcus, but the large measurement uncertainties prevent us from drawing any firm conclusions about the origin of the pair (capture or co-formation). Finally, we reset the orbital phase of Vanth around Orcus, and confirm the orbital parameters derived by Brown and collaborators.