Fraction of Contact Binary Trojan Asteroids
| dc.creator | Mann, Rita K. | |
| dc.creator | Jewitt, David | |
| dc.creator | Lacerda, Pedro | |
| dc.date | 2007-06-01 | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2026-07-07T11:16:33Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2026-07-07T11:16:33Z | |
| dc.description | We present the results of an optical lightcurve survey of 114 Jovian Trojan asteroids conducted to determine the fraction of contact binaries. Sparse-sampling was used to assess the photometric range of the asteroids and those showing the largest ranges were targeted for detailed follow-up observations. This survey led to the discovery of two Trojan asteroids, (17365) and (29314) displaying large lightcurve ranges (~1 magnitude) and long rotation periods (< 2 rotations per day consistent with a contact binary nature. The optical lightcurves of both asteroids are well matched by Roche binary equilibrium models. Using these binary models, we find low densities of ~600 kg/m^3 and 800 kg/m^3, suggestive of porous interiors. The fraction of contact binaries is estimated to be between 6% and 10%, comparable to the fraction in the Kuiper Belt. The total binary fraction in the Trojan clouds (including both wide and close pairs) must be higher. | |
| dc.description | 13 pages, 19 figures, and 4 tables. Accepted for publication in AJ (2007 May 22) | |
| dc.identifier | https://arxiv.org/abs/0706.0233 | |
| dc.identifier | http://arxiv.org/abs/0706.0233 | |
| dc.identifier | Astron.J.134:1133-1144,2007 | |
| dc.identifier | doi:10.1086/520328 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://salesiana.dossiersoluciones.com/handle/123456789/192706 | |
| dc.subject | Astrophysics | |
| dc.title | Fraction of Contact Binary Trojan Asteroids | |
| dc.type | text |