OSSOS VI. Striking Biases in the detection of large semimajor axis Trans-Neptunian Objects

The accumulating, but small, set of large semi-major axis trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs) shows an apparent clustering in the orientations of their orbits. This clustering must either be representative of the intrinsic distribution of these TNOs, or else arise as a result of observation biases and/or statistically expected variations for such a small set of detected objects. The clustered TNOs were detected across different and independent surveys, which has led to claims that the detections are therefore free of observational bias. This apparent clustering has led to the so-called "Planet 9" hypothesis that a super-Earth currently resides in the distant solar system and causes this clustering. The Outer Solar System Origins Survey (OSSOS) is a large program that ran on the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope from 2013--2017, discovering more than 800 new TNOs. One of the primary design goals of OSSOS was the careful determination of observational biases that would manifest within the detected sample. We demonstrate the striking and non-intuitive biases that exist for the detection of TNOs with large semi-major axes. The eight large semi-major axis OSSOS detections are an independent dataset, of comparable size to the conglomerate samples used in previous studies. We conclude that the orbital distribution of the OSSOS sample is consistent with being detected from a uniform underlying angular distribution.Comment: Accepted for publicatio

OSSOS: X. How to Use a Survey Simulator: Statistical Testing of Dynamical Models Against the Real Kuiper Belt

International audienceAll surveys include observational biases, which makes it impossible to directly compare properties of discovered trans-Neptunian Objects (TNOs) with dynamical models. However, by carefully keeping track of survey pointings on the sky, detection limits, tracking fractions, and rate cuts, the biases from a survey can be modeled in Survey Simulator software. A Survey Simulator takes an intrinsic orbital model (from, for example, the output of a dynamical Kuiper belt emplacement simulation) and applies the survey biases, so that the biased simulated objects can be directly compared with real discoveries. This methodology has been used with great success in the Outer Solar System Origins Survey (OSSOS) and its predecessor surveys. In this chapter, we give four examples of ways to use the OSSOS Survey Simulator to gain knowledge about the true structure of the Kuiper Belt. We demonstrate how to statistically compare different dynamical model outputs with real TNO discoveries, how to quantify detection biases within a TNO population, how to measure intrinsic population sizes, and how to use upper limits from non-detections. We hope this will provide a framework for dynamical modelers to statistically test the validity of their models

OSSOS. IV. DISCOVERY OF A DWARF PLANET CANDIDATE IN THE 9 : 2 RESONANCE WITH NEPTUNE

We report the discovery and orbit of a new dwarf planet candidate, 2015 RR245, by the Outer Solar System Origins Survey (OSSOS). The orbit of 2015 RR245 is eccentric (e = 0.586), with a semimajor axis near 82 au, yielding a perihelion distance of 34 au. 2015 RR245 has g - r = 0.59 +/- 0.11 and absolute magnitude H-r = 3.6 +/- 0.1; for an assumed albedo of p(V) = 12%, the object has a diameter of similar to 670. km. Based on astrometric measurements from OSSOS and Pan-STARRS1, we find that 2015 RR245 is securely trapped on ten-megayear timescales in the 9: 2 mean-motion resonance with Neptune. It is the first trans-Neptunian object (TNO) identified in this resonance. On hundred-megayear. timescales, particles in 2015 RR245-like orbits depart and sometimes return to the resonance, indicating that 2015 RR245 likely forms part of the long-lived metastable population of distant TNOs that drift between resonance sticking and actively scattering via gravitational encounters with Neptune. The discovery of a 9: 2 TNO stresses the role of resonances in the long-term evolution of objects in the scattering disk. and reinforces the view that distant resonances are heavily populated in the current solar system. This object further motivates detailed modeling of the transient sticking population.Peer reviewe

OSSOS. VII. 800+Trans-Neptunian Objects-The Complete Data Release

The Outer Solar System Origins Survey (OSSOS), a wide-field imaging program in 2013-2017 with the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope, surveyed 155 deg(2) of sky to depths of m(r) = 24.1-25.2. We present 838 outer solar system discoveries that are entirely free of ephemeris bias. This increases the inventory of trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs) with accurately known orbits by nearly 50%. Each minor planet has 20-60 Gaia/Pan-STARRS-calibrated astrometric measurements made over 2-5 oppositions, which allows accurate classification of their orbits within the trans-Neptunian dynamical populations. The populations orbiting in mean-motion resonance with Neptune are key to understanding Neptune's early migration. Our 313 resonant TNOs, including 132 plutinos, triple the available characterized sample and include new occupancy of distant resonances out to semimajor axis a similar to 130 au. OSSOS doubles the known population of the nonresonant Kuiper Belt, providing 436 TNOs in this region, all with exceptionally high-quality orbits of a uncertainty sigma(a)Peer reviewe

The Outer Solar System Origins Survey : I. Design and First-Quarter Discoveries

We report the discovery, tracking, and detection circumstances for 85 trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs) from the first 42 deg(2) of the Outer Solar System Origins Survey. This ongoing r-band solar system survey uses the 0.9 deg(2) field of view MegaPrime camera on the 3.6m Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope. Our orbital elements for these TNOs are precise to a fractional semimajor axis uncertaintyPeer reviewe

Detection of a divot in the size distribution of the Kuiper Belt's scattering objects

We present a joint analysis of the Canada France Ecliptic Plane Survey's scattering objects, and the Kaib et al. (2011b) orbital model, measuring the scattering objects' size distribution. Scattering objects are Trans-Neptunian objects which are strongly interacting with Neptune, having scattering encounters which change their semimajor axes on short dynamical timescales. We reject a single power-law distribution at the 99% level, and find that a dearth of small objects is required. We present a novel parameterisation of a divot size distribution, which rises as a single power-law to a precipitous drop, then recovers as another single power-law of potentially different slope. We constrain the form of such a divot distribution, and find that divots are preferred over "knee" size distributions, which are found elsewhere in the literature for different populations. We present our preferred divot scenario, which rises as a single power-law of logarithmic slope α = 0.8 as absolute Hg magnitudes increase to sizes corresponding to D ~ 100 km, then dropping by a factor of about 6 in differential number, followed by another single power-law of logarithmic slope α = 0.5. Our interpretation is that this feature arose from the size distribution made by planetesimal formation and is now "frozen in" to the "hot" populations of the outer Solar System. From this we estimate there are 2‧10⁹ scattering objects with Hg < 18, allowing for enough to supply the nearby Jupiter Family comets. This interpretation nicely ties the "hot" populations together while simultaneously explaining the source of the Jupiter Family comets and the observed paucity of intermediate-sized (50-100 km) Neptune Trojans.Science, Faculty ofPhysics and Astronomy, Department ofGraduat

A CAREFULLY CHARACTERIZED AND TRACKED TRANS-NEPTUNIAN SURVEY: THE SIZE DISTRIBUTION OF THE PLUTINOS AND THE NUMBER OF NEPTUNIAN TROJANS

International audienc

A new high-perihelion a ~ 700 AU object in the distant Solar System

International audienceWe report the discovery of a trans-Neptunian object (TNO) plausibly diffusing out of the inner Oort Cloud reservoir. This TNO is on an orbit with q ~ 50 AU, a ~ 700 AU, the largest semi-major axis yet detected for an orbit with perihelion q beyond the q ≤ 38 zone of strong influence of Neptune, exceeding the semi-major axes of (90377) Sedna, 2012 VP113 and 2010 GB174. Such objects are rarely observed. Trans-Neptunian objects with these high orbital perihelia have no confirmed formation mechanism in the present planetary architecture of the Solar System. The orbit of this new TNO can be formed by inward diffusion of objects from a Galactic-tide-dominated population with a ~ 1000-2000 AU; the formation mechanism is highly inefficient, and would require on the order of a hundred times more objects in that population than in the a ~ 700 AU population. We also report colour and light curve measurements of the new TNO with Gemini North and Subaru-HSC. The longitude of the ascending node and argument of perihelion of this TNO's orbit have implications for the hypothesis of a ninth planet

A new high-perihelion a ~ 700 AU object in the distant Solar System

International audienceWe report the discovery of a trans-Neptunian object (TNO) plausibly diffusing out of the inner Oort Cloud reservoir. This TNO is on an orbit with q ~ 50 AU, a ~ 700 AU, the largest semi-major axis yet detected for an orbit with perihelion q beyond the q ≤ 38 zone of strong influence of Neptune, exceeding the semi-major axes of (90377) Sedna, 2012 VP113 and 2010 GB174. Such objects are rarely observed. Trans-Neptunian objects with these high orbital perihelia have no confirmed formation mechanism in the present planetary architecture of the Solar System. The orbit of this new TNO can be formed by inward diffusion of objects from a Galactic-tide-dominated population with a ~ 1000-2000 AU; the formation mechanism is highly inefficient, and would require on the order of a hundred times more objects in that population than in the a ~ 700 AU population. We also report colour and light curve measurements of the new TNO with Gemini North and Subaru-HSC. The longitude of the ascending node and argument of perihelion of this TNO's orbit have implications for the hypothesis of a ninth planet