Tentative Detection of the Rotation of Eris
arXiv:0808.4130 · doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2008.08.001
Abstract
We report a multi-week sequence of B-band photometric measurements of the dwarf planet Eris using the {\it Swift} satellite. The use of an observatory in low-Earth orbit provides better temporal sampling than is available with a ground-based telescope. We find no compelling evidence for an unusually slow rotation period of multiple days, as has been suggested previously. A 1.08 day rotation period is marginally detected at a modest level of statistical confidence (97%). Analysis of the combination of the data with the ground-based B-band measurements of \citet{2007AJ....133...26R} returns the same period (1.08 day) at a slightly higher statistical confidence (99%).
Accepted to Icarus 2008-Aug-19. 19 pages total, including 4 figures and 1 table