The Extreme Kuiper Belt Binary 2001 QW322

The study of binary Kuiper Belt objects helps to probe the dynamic conditions present during planet formation in the solar system. We report on the mutual-orbit determination of 2001 QW322, a Kuiper Belt binary with a very large separation whose properties challenge binary-formation and -evolution t...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 2008-10, Vol.322 (5900), p.432-434
Main Authors: PETIT, J.-M, KAVELAARS, J. J, COFFEY, J, ROUSSELOT, P, MOUSIS, O, TAYLOR, P. A, GLADMAN, B. J, MARGOT, J. L, NICHOLSON, P. D, JONES, R. L, PARKER, J. Wm, ASHBY, M. L. N, CAMPO BAGATIN, A, BENAVIDEZ, P
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Astronomy
Astrophysics
Earth and Planetary Astrophysics
Earth, ocean, space
Exact sciences and technology
Interplanetary space
Kuiper Belt
Orbits
Sciences of the Universe
Solar system
Theory
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The study of binary Kuiper Belt objects helps to probe the dynamic conditions present during planet formation in the solar system. We report on the mutual-orbit determination of 2001 QW322, a Kuiper Belt binary with a very large separation whose properties challenge binary-formation and -evolution theories. Six years of tracking indicate that the binary's mutual-orbit period is approximately 25 to 30 years, that the orbit pole is retrograde and inclined 50 degrees to 62 degrees from the ecliptic plane, and, most surprisingly, that the mutual orbital eccentricity is
ISSN:0036-8075
1095-9203
DOI:10.1126/science.1163148