Spectral characteristics and modeling of the trans-neptunian object (55565) 2002 AW₁₉₇ and the Centaurs (55576) 2002 GB₁₀ and (83982) 2002 GO₉: ESO Large Program on TNOs and Centaurs

Alain Doressoundiram (1, 2) , Maria Antonella Barucci (1, 2) , Gian Paolo Tozzi (3) , François Poulet (4) , Hermann Boehnhardt (5) , Catherine de Bergh (1, 2) , Nuno Peixinho (1, 2, 6)

1 LESIA - Laboratoire d'études spatiales et d'instrumentation en astrophysique
2 Pôle Planétologie du LESIA
3 OAA - INAF - Osservatorio Astrofisico di Arcetri
4 IAS - Institut d'astrophysique spatiale
5 MPIA - Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie
6 CAAUL - Centro de Astronomia e Astrofísica da Universidade de Lisboa, Observatório Astronómico de Lisboa

We present in this paper first results on broadband photometry (JHK filters) and low-dispersion infrared spectroscopy performed at ESO Very Large Telescope (VLT) for the trans-neptunian object (55565) 2002 AW ₁₉₇ and Centaurs (55576) 2002 GB ₁₀ and (83982) 2002 GO ₉. These observations were obtained in the framework of ESO's Large Program on 'Physical Studies of TNOs and Centaurs'. All the spectra are characterized by a strong red visible-near infrared slope. There is no clear detection of water ice, except for the Centaur (83982) 2002 GO ₉. Analysis of these visible-near infrared reflectance spectra with radiative transfer models are compatible with a surface composed of intimate mixtures of organics compounds (Triton tholins, amorphous carbon) and contaminated water ice, although other possibilities exist.

Domaines: Astrophysique [astro-ph]

Alain Doressoundiram, Maria Antonella Barucci, Gian Paolo Tozzi, François Poulet, Hermann Boehnhardt, et al.. Spectral characteristics and modeling of the trans-neptunian object (55565) 2002 AW₁₉₇ and the Centaurs (55576) 2002 GB₁₀ and (83982) 2002 GO₉: ESO Large Program on TNOs and Centaurs. Planetary and Space Science, 2005, 53, pp.1501-1509. ⟨10.1016/j.pss.2004.11.007⟩. ⟨hal-03786479⟩