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A superior mutual event of the Kuiper Belt binary system (79360) Sila–Nunam was observed over 15.47h on UT 7/8 February 2013 by a coordinated effort at four different telescope facilities; it started ∼1.5h earlier than anticipated, the duration was ∼9.5h (about 10% longer than predicted), and was slightly less deep than predicted. It is the first full event observed for a comparably sized binary Kuiper...
We present resolved near-infrared spectra of Mercury scanning 70% of the surface in latitude and longitude from three separate observations, allowing us to perform a compositional investigation of its surface. By scanning the surface we find that all spectra in our sample are remarkably similar suggesting overall compositional homogeneity. We do, however, observe a slope difference between the spectra...
Several different trans-neptunian objects have been studied in order to investigate their physical and chemical properties. New observations in the 1.1–1.4μm range, obtained with the ISAAC instrument, are presented in order to complete previous observations carried out with FORS1 in the visible and SINFONI in the near infrared. All of the observations have been performed at the ESO/Very Large Telescope...
High-resolution spectroscopy of Mercury has been obtained with two different instruments in 2006: the EMMI instrument at the 3.6-m NTT telescope of ESO La Silla Chile and the ESPADON spectrograph at the 3.6-m CFHT telescope on top of Mauna Kea (Hawaii). The disk of the planet has been scanned for spatial variation of the exospheric species. The large spectral range and high resolution allow simultaneous...
We present the data acquisition strategy and characterization procedures for the Canada–France Ecliptic Plane Survey (CFEPS), a sub-component of the Canada–France–Hawaii Telescope Legacy Survey. The survey began in early 2003 and as of summer 2005 has covered 430 square degrees of sky within a few degrees of the ecliptic. Moving objects beyond the orbit of Uranus are detected to a magnitude limit...
We present here the latest B−V, V−R, and R−I color measurements obtained with the CFH12K mosaic camera of the 3.6-m Canada–France–Hawaii Telescope (CFHT). This work is the latest extension of the Meudon Multicolor Survey (2MS) and extends the total number of Centaurs and trans-neptunian objects (TNOs) in the dataset to 71. With this large and homogeneous dataset, we performed relevant statistical...
We report 43 new visible colors of Centaurs and TNOs, obtained at NTT and VLT telescopes under the “ESO large program on physical properties of Centaurs and TNOs.” Merging these new measurements with those obtained during the first part of the program (Boehnhardt et al., 2002, Astron. Astrophys. 395, 297–303) and the “Meudon Multicolor Survey” (Doressoundiram et al., 2002, Astron. J. 124, 2279–2296)...
Transneptunian objects and Centaurs are supposed to be among the most pristine bodies of the Solar System. To investigate their physical properties and their surface composition, an ESO large program at the Very Large Telescope was carried out. In this paper we present photometric and spectroscopic near-infrared data of two Centaurs (1998 SG35 and 2000 QC243) and one transneptunian object (47171 1999...
We present a numerical check of the collisional resurfacing (CR) hypothesis proposed to explain the observed color diversity within the Kuiper Belt (where surface reddening due to space weathering is counteracted by regular resurfacing of neutral material after mutual collisions). Deterministic simulations are performed in order to estimate the relative spatial distribution of kinetic energy received...
Observations of emissivity features of 10 Hygiea have been made for the first time in the relatively unexplored thermal-infrared wavelength region with the ISO (Infrared Space Observatory) satellite. Spectrophotomer (PHT-S) and short wavelength spectrometer (SWS) spectra of 10 Hygiea, obtained at 5.8-11.6 and 7-45 μm, respectively, are presented. In order to remove the thermal emission continuum,...
We are continuing our photometric survey of the trans-neptunian and Centaur populations started in 1997. We report multicolor photometry for 17 objects. With these results combined with previous data (M. A. Barucci, A. Doressoundiram, M. Fulchignoni, D. Tholen, and M. Lazzarin 1999. Icarus142, 476-481; M. A. Barucci, J. Romon, A. Doressoundiram, and D. Tholen 2000. Astron. J.120, 496-500), we have...
The Nysa-Polana dynamical family is one of the most complex groupings identified in the asteroid main belt. It has a generally twofold structure and is located in a region of the belt showing an unusual abundance of the fairly rare F-type taxonomic class. We present here new spectra of 22 family members, observed at ESO (European Southern Observatory) and at CASLEO (Complejo Astronomico El Leoncito,...
The fact that some asteroids presently located in the 9/4 mean-motion resonance with Jupiter could be ''Eos fugitives'', that is, original members of this asteroid family injected into the resonance and experiencing a gradual eccentricity increase, was first suggested a few years ago (Morbidelli, A., V. Zappala, M. Moons, A. Cellino, and R. Gonczi 1995. Icarus 118, 132-154). We present here the results...
The Edgeworth-Kuiper Belt (EKB) objects are fossil remnants of the formation of the Solar System and they represent an important reservoir of primordial, thermally unprocessed material. The study of these objects has rapidly evolved in the last few years. New observational work allowed planetary scientists to investigate evolutionary and dynamical processes in the outer solar system, putting some...
The analysis of visible and near-infrared reflectance spectra of C-class objects has revealed the presence of features that appear to indicate a history of aqueous alteration on their surfaces. This result can provide constraints on our understanding of the early Solar System. We have recorded spectra covering 0.48–0.92 μm for 29 C-class objects with orbital semimajor axes between 2.3 and 3.6 AU....
The Eos family detected by Hirayama in 1918 has been always considered to be compositionally homogeneous. To investigate the composition and the homogeneity of the members of this family, we started a spectroscopic survey at the European Southern Observatory (ESO) with wavelength coverage ranging from 4800 to 9200 Å. We observed 45 Eos asteroid members, which constitutes the first large survey of...
It is now accepted that comets and asteroids are not two well-separated classes of objects. In particular, several peculiar objects have been recognized to resemble comets in several aspects: chemical, dynamical, and/or physical. In this context we spectroscopically observed in the visible region three strong cometary candidates: 944 Hidalgo, 2201 Oljato, and 3200 Phaethon. The spectrum of Hidalgo...
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