Optical Spectroscopy of the Large Kuiper Belt Objects 136472 (2005 FY9) and 136108 (2003 EL61)

Abstract

We present high signal precision optical reflectance spectra of the large Kuiper belt objects 2005 FY9 and 2003 EL61. The spectrum of 2005 FY9 exhibits strong CH4-ice bands. A comparison between the spectrum and a Hapke model indicates the CH4 bands are shifted 3.25 +/- 2.25A relative to pure CH4-ice, suggesting the presence of another ice component on the surface of 2005 FY9, possibly N2-ice, CO-ice, or Ar. The spectrum of 2003 EL61 is remarkably featureless. There is a hint of an O2-ice band at 5773A; however, this feature needs to be confirmed by future spectroscopic observations of 2003 EL61 with a higher continuum signal precision, sufficient to detect a second weaker O2-ice band at 6275A.

arXiv commentThe paper will appear in the Astronomical Journal. The paper consists of 17 pages (1 table and 6 figures)

References in corpus (4)

• Discovery of a planetary-sized object in the scattered Kuiper belt
• Photometric Observations Constraining the Size, Shape, and Albedo of 2003 El61, a Rapidly Rotating, Pluto-Sized Object in the Kuiper Belt
• NICS-TNG infrared spectroscopy of trans-neptunian objects 2000 EB173 and 2000 WR106
• Water Ice on the Satellite of Kuiper Belt Object 2003 EL61

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