A multi-chord stellar occultation by the large trans-Neptunian object (174567) Varda

Context. We present results from the first recorded stellar occultation by the large trans-Neptunian object (174567) Varda that was observed on September 10, 2018. Varda belongs to the high-inclination dynamically excited population, and has a satellite, Ilmarë, which is half the size of Varda. Aims...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Souami, D., Braga-Ribas, F., Sicardy, B., Morgado, B., Ortiz, J. L., Desmars, J., Camargo, J. I.B., Vachier, F., Berthier, J., Carry, B., Anderson, C. J., Showers, R., Thomason, K., Maley, P. D., Thomas, W., Buie, M. W., Leiva, R., Keller, J. M., Vieira-Martins, R., Assafin, M., Santos-Sanz, P., Morales, N., Duffard, R., Benedetti-Rossi, G., Gomes-Júnior, A. R. [UNESP], Boufleur, R., Pereira, C. L., Margoti, G., Pavlov, H., George, T., Oesper, D., Bardecker, J., Dunford, R., Kehrli, M., Spencer, C., Cota, J. M., Garcia, M., Lara, C., McCandless, K. A., Self, E., Lecacheux, J., Frappa, E., Dunham, D., Emilio, M.
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2020
País:Brasil
Institución:Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP)
Repositorio:Repositório Institucional da UNESP
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:repositorio.unesp.br:11449/205488
Acceso en línea:http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202038526
http://hdl.handle.net/11449/205488
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Kuiper belt objects: individual: Varda
Methods: observational
Occultations
Descripción
Sumario:Context. We present results from the first recorded stellar occultation by the large trans-Neptunian object (174567) Varda that was observed on September 10, 2018. Varda belongs to the high-inclination dynamically excited population, and has a satellite, Ilmarë, which is half the size of Varda. Aims. We determine the size and albedo of Varda and constrain its 3D shape and density. Methods. Thirteen different sites in the USA monitored the event, five of which detected an occultation by the main body. A best-fitting ellipse to the occultation chords provides the instantaneous limb of the body, from which the geometric albedo is computed. The size and shape of Varda are evaluated, and its bulk density is constrained using Varda's mass as is known from previous works. Results. The best-fitting elliptical limb has semi-major (equatorial) axis of (383 ± 3) km and an apparent oblateness of 0.066 ± 0.047, corresponding to an apparent area-equivalent radius R′equiv = (370±7) km and geometric albedo pv = 0.099 ± 0.002 assuming a visual absolute magnitude HV = 3.81 ± 0.01. Using three possible rotational periods for the body (4.76, 5.91, and 7.87 h), we derive corresponding MacLaurin solutions. Furthermore, given the low-amplitude (0.06 ± 0.01) mag of the single-peaked rotational light-curve for the aforementioned periods, we consider the double periods. For the 5.91 h period (the most probable) and its double (11.82 h), we find bulk densities and true oblateness of ρ = (1.78 ± 0.06) g cm-3, ϵ = 0.235 ± 0.050, and ρ = (1.23 ± 0.04) g cm-3, ϵ = 0.080 ± 0.049. However, it must be noted that the other solutions cannot be excluded just yet.

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