Rotational properties of the binary and non-binary populations in the Trans-Neptunian belt

Abstract

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.

Accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysics (June 26th, 2014); minor changes with published version; 21 pages, 17 figures, 7 tables

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• Ring Formation around Giant Planets by Tidal Disruption of a Single Passing Large Kuiper Belt Object
• The Mutual Orbit, Mass, and Density of the Large Transneptunian Binary System Varda and Ilmarë
• Trans-Neptunian binaries (2018)
• The Trojan Color Conundrum
• Formation of Centaurs' rings through their partial tidal disruption during planetary encounters
• Results from the 2014 November 15th multi-chord stellar occultation by the TNO (229762) 2007 UK${}_{126}$
• Lightcurves and Rotational Properties of the Pristine Cold Classical Kuiper Belt Objects
• Results from a triple chord stellar occultation and far-infrared photometry of the trans-Neptunian object (229762) 2007 UK126
• The large Trans-Neptunian Object 2002 TC${}_{302}$ from combined stellar occultation, photometry and astrometry data
• Physical Characterization of ~2-meter Diameter Near-Earth Asteroid 2015 TC25: A possible boulder from E-type Asteroid (44) Nysa
• 2004 TT357: A potential contact binary in the Trans-Neptunian belt
• Beyond Point Masses. II. Non-Keplerian Shape Effects are Detectable in Several TNO Binaries
• A possible dynamically Cold Classical contact binary: (126719) 2002 CC249
• Long-term photometric monitoring of the dwarf planet (136472) Makemake
• Dynamical environments of MU69 and similar objects
• Dynamical environments of (486958) Arrokoth: prior evolution and present state