Published August 10, 2013 | Version v1
Journal article Metadata-only

CENTAURS AND SCATTERED DISK OBJECTS IN THE THERMAL INFRARED: ANALYSIS OF WISE/NEOWISE OBSERVATIONS

Creators

  • 1. Infrared Processing and Analysis Center, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125 (United States)
  • 2. Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, MS 183-401, Pasadena, CA 91109 (United States)
  • 3. Planetary Science Institute, 1700 East Fort Lowell, Suite 106, Tucson, AZ 85719-2395 (United States)

Description

The Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) observed 52 Centaurs and scattered disk objects (SDOs) in the thermal infrared, including 15 new discoveries. We present analyses of these observations to estimate sizes and mean optical albedos. We find mean albedos of 0.08 ± 0.04 for the entire data set. Thermal fits yield average beaming parameters of 0.9 ± 0.2 that are similar for both SDO and Centaur sub-classes. Biased cumulative size distributions yield size-frequency distribution power law indices of ∼–1.7 ± 0.3. The data also reveal a relation between albedo and color at the 3σ level. No significant relation between diameter and albedos is found

Availability note (English)

Available from http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/773/1/22

Additional details

Identifiers

DOI
10.1088/0004-637X/773/1/22;

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Astrophysical Journal
Journal Volume
773
Journal Issue
1
Journal Page Range
[11 p.]
ISSN
0004-637X
CODEN
ASJOAB

INIS

Country of Publication
United States
Country of Input or Organization
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
INIS RN
44094824
Subject category
S79: ASTROPHYSICS, COSMOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY;
Descriptors DEI
ALBEDO; ASTEROIDS; COLOR; COMETS; DISTRIBUTION; INFRARED SURVEYS; PLANETS
Descriptors DEC
GEOLOGIC SURVEYS; GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS; OPTICAL PROPERTIES; ORGANOLEPTIC PROPERTIES; PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

Optional Information

Collaborations
WISE Team; PTF Team