2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1996 | 1995 | 1994 | 1993 | 1992 | 1991 | 1990 | 1989 | 1988 | 1987 | 1986 | 1985 | 1984 | 1983 | 1982 | 1981 | 1980 | 1979 | 1978 | 1977 | 1976 | 1975 | 1974 | 1973 | 1972 | 1971 | 1970 | 1969 | 1968 | 1967 | 1966 | 1965 | 1964 | 1963 | 1962 | 1961 | 500 | 76 | 0

Physical Characteristics of Centaurs and TNOs

Authors: Doressoundiram, Alain; Barucci, Maria A.; Peixinho, Nuno

Ref.: Physical Properties and Morphology of Small Solar System Bodies, 25th meeting of the IAU, Joint Discussion 19, 23 July 2003, Sydney, Australia (2003)

Abstract: Beyond the orbit of Neptune exists a population of bodies remaining from the formation of the solar system. These are the Kuiper Belt or Trans-Neptunian Objects (TNOs). Scientific interest in these bodies arises because this region of the solar system may preserve some of the most primitive materials available to direct investigation. We have started since 1997 a multicolor photometric survey with the aim of collecting a large and homogeneous set of color data for TNOs and Centaurs objects. With this large dataset obtained mostly at CFHT and ESO we performed relevant statistical analyses to search for compositional structures interrelations with related populations and correlations with physical and orbital parameters. One of the most puzzling features of the Kuiper Belt is the optical color diversity that seems to prevail among the observed TNOs. In this work we will present results on the strong correlations found with some orbital parameters (i e q) for the Classical Kuiper Belt. The correlations found are important because they are diagnostic of some physical effects processing the surfaces of these icy and primitive objects. We will give a global picture of the color properties and trends within the Kuiper Belt.