Occultation sheds light on KBO
Posted: Thu, Jun 17, 2010, 6:54 AM ET (1054 GMT)
Planetary astronomers have made the first observation of a Kuiper Belt object (KBO) occulting a star, providing information on its size and albedo. An MIT-led time, reporting in this week's issue of the journal Nature, reported on observations of a KBO designated 55636 as it passed in front of a bright star last October. Astronomers used the observations to determine the KBO's radius, 143 kilometers, and its albedo. They found the object is highly reflective, a surprising result since other objects in the outer solar system have darker surfaces as solar radiation darkens icy surfaces and as dust accumulates.
Planetary astronomers have made the first observation of a Kuiper Belt object (KBO) occulting a star, providing information on its size and albedo. An MIT-led time, reporting in this week's issue of the journal Nature, reported on observations of a KBO designated 55636 as it passed in front of a bright star last October. Astronomers used the observations to determine the KBO's radius, 143 kilometers, and its albedo. They found the object is highly reflective, a surprising result since other objects in the outer solar system have darker surfaces as solar radiation darkens icy surfaces and as dust accumulates.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
Blue Origin describes plans for increased New Glenn launch rates
Posted: Sat, Oct 17 11:41 AM ET (1541 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Tuesday, October 20
A Mars-velous decade: Celebrating ten years of TGO
ESA — 5:27 am ET (0927 GMT) How US Satellites Became Crucial to Ukraine’s Defense
Bloomberg News — 5:26 am ET (0926 GMT) How to stop Putin’s missiles before they even leave Russia
Washington Post — 5:25 am ET (0925 GMT) Fire at Starlink Center in Lithuania Was Sabotage, Officials Say
New York Times — 5:25 am ET (0925 GMT) Space Forces Central Poised for ‘Fivefold’ Growth in Coming Years
Air and Space Forces Magazine — 5:22 am ET (0922 GMT) |
