Photometry of the Kuiper-Belt object 1999 TD$_{\sf\sl 10}$ at different phase angles

Time-resolved Near-infrared Photometry of Extreme Kuiper Belt Object Haumea

We present time-resolved near-infrared (J and H) photometry of the extreme Kuiper belt object (136108) Haumea (formerly 2003EL61) taken to further investigate rotational variability of this object. The new data show that the near-infrared peak-to-peak photometric range is similar to the value at visible wavelengths, ∆mR = 0.30±0.02 mag. Detailed analysis of the new and previous data reveals sub...

The Albedo , Size , and Density of Binary Kuiper Belt Object ( 47171 ) 1999 TC 36

We measured the system-integrated thermal emission of the binary Kuiper Belt Object (47171) 1999 TC 36 at wavelengths near 24 and 70 µm using the Spitzer space telescope. We fit these data and the visual magnitude using both the Standard Thermal Model and thermophysical models. We find that the effective diameter of the binary is 405 km, with a range of 350 – 470 km, and the effective visible g...

From Kuiper Belt Object to Cometary Nucleus

We now realise that many small body populations are related through a common origin in the Kuiper Belt, notably the Centaurs, the Jupiter Family Comets and certain dead-comets. But does primitive material from the Kuiper Belt survive the journey to the inner solar system and can we learn anything about it by studying the comets? We discuss observational evidence and other considerations that re...

The Chemical Composition of an Extrasolar Kuiper-Belt-Object

The Kuiper Belt of our solar system is a source of short-period comets that may have delivered water and other volatiles to Earth and the other terrestrial planets. However, the distribution of water and other volatiles in extrasolar planetary systems is largely unknown. We report the discovery of an accretion of a Kuiper-Belt-Object analog onto the atmosphere of the white dwarf WD 1425+540. Th...

The Kuiper Belt