High Precision Photometry of Extreme KBO 2003 EL61

Abstract

We present high precision, time-resolved visible and near infrared photometry of the large (diameter ~ 2500 km) Kuiper belt object (136108) 2003 EL61. The new data confirm rapid rotation at period P = 3.9155+/-0.0001 hr with a peak-to-peak photometric range (Delta m_R) = 0.29+/-0.02 mag and further show subtle but reproducible color variations with rotation. Rotational deformation of 2003 EL61 alone would give rise to a symmetric lightcurve free of color variations. The observed photometric deviations from the best-fit equilibrium model show the existence of a large surface region with an albedo and color different from the mean surface of 2003 EL61. We explore constraints on the nature of this anomalous region set by the existing data.

9 pages, 8 figures, 5 tables. Accepted for publication in The Astronomical Journal on 2008/01/25

References in corpus (5)

• Densities of Solar System Objects from their Rotational Lightcurves
• The Diverse Solar Phase Curves of Distant Icy Bodies. Part I: Photometric Observations of 18 Trans-Neptunian Objects, 7 Centaurs, and Nereid
• Candidate Members and Age Estimate of the Family of Kuiper Belt Object 2003 EL61
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Cited by in corpus (4)

• Transneptunian objects and Centaurs from light curves
• Detection of Additional Members of the 2003 EL61 Family via Infrared Spectroscopy
• NICMOS Photometry of the Unusual Dwarf Planet Haumea and its Satellites
• Time-Resolved Near-Infrared Photometry of Extreme Kuiper Belt Object Haumea