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Surface properties of icy transneptunian objects from the second ESO large program
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 06 April 2010
Abstract
An analysis is well underway for the data from the second Large Program (PI M. A. Barucci) dedicated to investigating the surface properties of Centaurs and Transneptunian objects through spectroscopic, photometric color, lightcurve, and polarimetric observations using the European Southern Observatory (ESO) Very Large Telescope (VLT) and New Technology Telescope (NTT). 45 objects were observed between 2006 and 2008, allowing a broad characterization of at least the largest and brightest objects among this population. In this report, we summarize all our findings, but focus on the analysis of the presence of ices such as methane, ethane, nitrogen, ammonia hydrate, methanol, and particularly H2O which is so abundant throughout the outer solar system.
- Type
- Contributed Papers
- Information
- Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union , Volume 5 , Symposium S263: Icy Bodies of the Solar System , August 2009 , pp. 186 - 191
- Copyright
- Copyright © International Astronomical Union 2010
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