3,577 research outputs found
Infrared variability of Jupiter and Saturn
Infrared spectroscopy provides unique insights into the chemistry and dynamics of the atmospheres of Jupiter and Saturn, and of the enigmatic satellite of Saturn, Titan. The 5 micron spectral region of these objects is transparent to deep levels, and is therefore particularly useful for the identification of molecules that are present at very low (parts per billion) concentrations. In Titan, 5 micron observations probe atmospheric layers at or near the surface. Ground-based spectroscopy complements Voyager, Galileo, and Cassini measurements. The spectroscopy is sensitive to lower mixing ratios for selected molecules, while the on-board mass and infrared spectrometers probe molecules and levels that are inaccessible form the ground. The observations also provide time-based data for preparation of the upcoming missions
Rotational properties of the binary and non-binary populations in the Trans-Neptunian belt
We present results for the short-term variability of Binary Trans-Neptunian
Objects (BTNOs). We performed CCD photometric observations using the 3.58 m
Telescopio Nazionale Galileo, the 1.5 m Sierra Nevada Observatory telescope,
and the 1.23 m Centro Astronomico Hispano Aleman telescope at Calar Alto
Observatory. We present results based on five years of observations and report
the short-term variability of six BTNOs. Our sample contains three classical
objects: 2003MW12, or Varda, 2004SB60, or Salacia, and 2002 VT130; one detached
disk object: 2007UK126; and two resonant objects: 2007TY430 and 2000EB173, or
Huya. For each target, possible rotational periods and/or photometric
amplitudes are reported. We also derived some physical properties from their
lightcurves, such as density, primary and secondary sizes, and albedo. We
compiled and analyzed a vast lightcurve database for Trans-Neptunian Objects
(TNOs) including centaurs to determine the lightcurve amplitude and spin
frequency distributions for the binary and non-binary populations. The mean
rotational periods, from the Maxwellian fits to the frequency distributions,
are 8.63+/-0.52 h for the entire sample, 8.37+/-0.58 h for the sample without
the binary population, and 10.11+/-1.19 h for the binary population alone.
Because the centaurs are collisionally more evolved, their rotational periods
might not be so primordial. We computed a mean rotational period, from the
Maxwellian fit, of 8.86+/-0.58 h for the sample without the centaur population,
and of 8.64+/-0.67 h considering a sample without the binary and the centaur
populations. According to this analysis, regular TNOs spin faster than
binaries, which is compatible with the tidal interaction of the binaries.
Finally, we examined possible formation models for several systems studied in
this work and by our team in previous papers.Comment: Accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysics (June 26th,
2014); minor changes with published version; 21 pages, 17 figures, 7 table
Discovery of a Binary Centaur
We have identified a binary companion to (42355) 2002 CR46 in our ongoing
deep survey using the Hubble Space Telescope's High Resolution Camera. It is
the first companion to be found around an object in a non-resonant orbit that
crosses the orbits of giant planets. Objects in orbits of this kind, the
Centaurs, have experienced repeated strong scattering with one or more giant
planets and therefore the survival of binaries in this transient population has
been in question. Monte Carlo simulations suggest, however, that binaries in
(42355) 2002 CR46 -like heliocentric orbits have a high probability of survival
for reasonable estimates of the binary's still-unknown system mass and
separation. Because Centaurs are thought to be precursors to short period
comets, the question of the existence of binary comets naturally arises; none
has yet been definitively identified. The discovery of one binary in a sample
of eight observed by HST suggests that binaries in this population may not be
uncommon.Comment: 20 pages, 4 figures, 1 table accepted for publication in Icaru
The abundances of ethane to acetylene in the atmospheres of Jupiter and Saturn
The present determination of the stratospheric abundances of ethane and acetylene on Jupiter and Saturn on the basis of IR spectra near 780/cm uses atmospheric models whose thermal and density profiles have constant mixing ratios. The ratio of ethane to acetylene is noted to be insensitive to model atmosphere assumptions; it is 55 + or - 31 for Jupiter and 23 + or - 12 where model mixing ratios are uniform. Atmospheric model density profiles adapted from theoretical photochemical models are noted to also yield a higher ethane/acetylene ratios for Jupiter
Spectroscopic Detection of Carbon Monoxide in Two Late-type T Dwarfs
M band spectra of two late-type T dwarfs, 2MASS J09373487+2931409, and Gliese
570D, confirm evidence from photometry that photospheric CO is present at
abundance levels far in excess of those predicted from chemical equilibrium.
These new and unambiguous detections of CO, together with an earlier
spectroscopic detection of CO in Gliese 229B and existing M band photometry of
a large selection of T dwarfs, suggest that vertical mixing in the photosphere
drives the CO abundance out of chemical equilibrium and is a common, and likely
universal feature of mid-to-late type T dwarfs. The M band spectra allow
determinations of the time scale of vertical mixing in the atmosphere of each
object, the first such measurements of this important parameter in late T
dwarfs. A detailed analysis of the spectral energy distribution of 2MASS
J09373487+2931409 results in the following values for metallicity, temperature,
surface gravity, and luminosity: [M/H]~-0.3, T_eff=925-975K, log g=5.20-5.47,
log L/L_sun=-5.308 +/- 0.027. The age is 3-10 Gyr and the mass is in the range
45-69 M_Jup.Comment: 36 pages incl. 12 figures and 3 tables, accepted by Ap
The Mutual Orbit, Mass, and Density of Transneptunian Binary Gknhmdm (229762 2007 UK126)
We present high spatial resolution images of the binary transneptunian object Gkn'hmdm (229762 2007 UK126) obtained with the Hubble Space Telescope and with the Keck observatory on Mauna Kea to determine the orbit of G' hG' h, the much smaller and redder satellite. G' h orbits in a prograde sense, on a circular or near-circular orbit with a period of 11.3 days and a semimajor axis of 6000 km. Tidal evolution is expected to be slow, so it is likely that the system formed already in a low-eccentricity configuration, and possibly also with the orbit plane of the satellite in or close to the plane of Gkn'hmdm's equator. From the orbital parameters we can compute the system mass to be 1.4 10(exp 20) kg. Combined with estimates of the size of Gkn'hmdm from thermal observations and stellar occultations, we can estimate the bulk density as about 1 g cm(exp 3). This low density is indicative of an ice-rich composition, unless there is substantial internal porosity. We consider the hypothesis that the composition is not unusually ice-rich compared with larger TNOs and comet nuclei, and instead the porosity is high, suggesting that mid-sized objects in the 400 to 1000 km diameter range mark the transition between small, porous objects and larger objects that have collapsed their internal void space as a result of their much higher internal pressures and temperatures
Geothermal probabilistic cost study
A tool is presented to quantify the risks of geothermal projects, the Geothermal Probabilistic Cost Model (GPCM). The GPCM model was used to evaluate a geothermal reservoir for a binary-cycle electric plant at Heber, California. Three institutional aspects of the geothermal risk which can shift the risk among different agents was analyzed. The leasing of geothermal land, contracting between the producer and the user of the geothermal heat, and insurance against faulty performance were examined
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.Comment: 12 pages, 2 figures; accepted by ApJ Letter
The Orbit of Transneptunian Binary Manw\"e and Thorondor and their Upcoming Mutual Events
A new Hubble Space Telescope observation of the 7:4 resonant transneptunian
binary system (385446) Manw\"e has shown that, of two previously reported
solutions for the orbit of its satellite Thorondor, the prograde one is
correct. The orbit has a period of 110.18 0.02 days, semimajor axis of
6670 40 km, and an eccentricity of 0.563 0.007. It will be viewable
edge-on from the inner solar system during 2015-2017, presenting opportunities
to observe mutual occultation and eclipse events. However, the number of
observable events will be small, owing to the long orbital period and expected
small sizes of the bodies relative to their separation. This paper presents
predictions for events observable from Earth-based telescopes and discusses the
associated uncertainties and challenges.Comment: 15 pages, 3 figures, 5 table
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