SIMBAD references

2019AJ....158...69K - Astron. J., 158, 69-69 (2019/August-0)

A Pluto-Charon sonata: dynamical limits on the masses of the small satellites.

KENYON S.J. and BROMLEY B.C.

Abstract (from CDS):

During 2005-2012, images from Hubble Space Telescope (HST) revealed four moons orbiting Pluto-Charon. Although their orbits and geometric shapes are well-known, the 2σ uncertainties in the masses of the two largest satellites-Nix and Hydra-are comparable to their HST masses. Remarkably, gravitational n-body computer calculations of the long-term system stability on 0.1-1 Gyr timescales place much tighter constraints on the masses of Nix and Hydra, with upper limits ∼10% larger than the HST mass. Constraints on the mass density using size measurements from New Horizons suggest Nix and Hydra formed in icier material than Pluto and Charon.

Abstract Copyright: © 2019. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.

Journal keyword(s): planets and satellites: dynamical evolution and stability - planets and satellites: individual Pluto

Simbad objects: 5

goto Full paper

goto View the references in ADS

To bookmark this query, right click on this link: simbad:2019AJ....158...69K and select 'bookmark this link' or equivalent in the popup menu