TY - JOUR
T1 - Physical properties of Jupiter-family comets and KBOs from ground-based lightcurve observations
AU - Kokotanekova, Rosita
AU - Snodgrass, Colin
AU - Lacerda, Pedro
AU - Green, Simon F.
PY - 2017/10/1
Y1 - 2017/10/1
N2 - Rotational lightcurves are among the most powerful tools to study the
physical characteristics of small bodies in the Solar system. They can
be used to constrain their spin rates, shapes, densities and
compositions. We have developed a method to derive precise lightcurves
and phase functions from sparsely sampled data, calibrated using
Pan-STARRS stellar magnitudes. We employ this technique to characterize
the physical properties of Jupiter Family Comets (JFCs) and Kuiper Belt
Objects (KBOs).We provide an updated study of the collective properties
of JFCs by increasing the sample of comets with well-studied rotational
and surface characteristics. To collect the sample, we reviewed the
properties of 35 previously-studied JFCs and added new lightcurves and
phase functions for nine JFCs observed between 2004 and 2015.The new
extended sample confirms the known cut-off in bulk density at ˜0.6 g
cm-3 if JFCs are strengthless. For typical density and
elongations, we determined that JFCs require tensile strength of 10-25
Pa to remain stable against rotational instabilities. To provide further
constraints on the physical characteristics of JFCs we combine these
findings with a study of the activity-induced spin changes of JFCs.
Using the newly derived albedos and phase functions, we found that the
median linear phase function coefficient for JFCs is 0.046 mag/deg and
the median albedo is 4.2 per cent. We found evidence for an increasing
linear phase function coefficient with increasing albedo.In an attempt
to relate JFCs to their source populations, we compare them to KBOs. We
performed a magnitude-limited survey of 40 KBOs, observed with the 3.6-m
ESO New Technology Telescope between 2014 and 2017. This is the first
survey with a 4m-class telescope conducted in an entirely homogeneous
manner (using the same telescope, observing strategy, and data
analysis). This program allows us to relate the rotation rates, physical
properties and surface characteristics of JFCs and KBOs in order to test
the different hypotheses for their formation and subsequent evolution.
AB - Rotational lightcurves are among the most powerful tools to study the
physical characteristics of small bodies in the Solar system. They can
be used to constrain their spin rates, shapes, densities and
compositions. We have developed a method to derive precise lightcurves
and phase functions from sparsely sampled data, calibrated using
Pan-STARRS stellar magnitudes. We employ this technique to characterize
the physical properties of Jupiter Family Comets (JFCs) and Kuiper Belt
Objects (KBOs).We provide an updated study of the collective properties
of JFCs by increasing the sample of comets with well-studied rotational
and surface characteristics. To collect the sample, we reviewed the
properties of 35 previously-studied JFCs and added new lightcurves and
phase functions for nine JFCs observed between 2004 and 2015.The new
extended sample confirms the known cut-off in bulk density at ˜0.6 g
cm-3 if JFCs are strengthless. For typical density and
elongations, we determined that JFCs require tensile strength of 10-25
Pa to remain stable against rotational instabilities. To provide further
constraints on the physical characteristics of JFCs we combine these
findings with a study of the activity-induced spin changes of JFCs.
Using the newly derived albedos and phase functions, we found that the
median linear phase function coefficient for JFCs is 0.046 mag/deg and
the median albedo is 4.2 per cent. We found evidence for an increasing
linear phase function coefficient with increasing albedo.In an attempt
to relate JFCs to their source populations, we compare them to KBOs. We
performed a magnitude-limited survey of 40 KBOs, observed with the 3.6-m
ESO New Technology Telescope between 2014 and 2017. This is the first
survey with a 4m-class telescope conducted in an entirely homogeneous
manner (using the same telescope, observing strategy, and data
analysis). This program allows us to relate the rotation rates, physical
properties and surface characteristics of JFCs and KBOs in order to test
the different hypotheses for their formation and subsequent evolution.
M3 - Article
VL - 49
JO - American Astronomical Society, AAS Meeting #231
JF - American Astronomical Society, AAS Meeting #231
ER -