EDP Sciences Journals List
Advanced Search
Subscriber Authentication Point
Home All issues Volume 415/ 2 Article

Free access article

Issue A&A
Volume 415, Number 2, February IV 2004
Page(s) L21 - L25
Section Letters
DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361:20040005



A&A 415, L21-L25 (2004)
DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361:20040005

Letter

Surface characterization of 28978 Ixion (2001 KX $\mathsf{_{76}}$)

H. Boehnhardt1, S. Bagnulo2, K. Muinonen3, M. A. Barucci4, L. Kolokolova5, E. Dotto6 and G. P. Tozzi7

1  Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie, Königstuhl 17, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
2  European Southern Observatory, Alonso de Cordova 3107, Santiago de Chile
3  Observatory, PO Box 14, 00014 University of Helsinki, Finland
4  Observatoire Paris-Meudon, 5 place Jules Janssen, 92195 Meudon Cedex, France
5  Department of Astronomy, 211 SSRB, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611-2055, USA
6  INAF - Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma, via Frascati 33, 00040 Monteporzio Catone, Italy
7  INAF - Osservatorio Astrofisico di Arcetri, Largo E. Fermi 5, 50125 Firenze, Italy

(Received 21 November 2003 / Accepted 7 January 2004)

Abstract
The Plutino 28978 Ixion, one of the largest objects in the Kuiper Belt, is measured by  R filter photometry and linear polarimetry over the phase angle range as well as by BVRI colours and visible spectroscopy. Ixion is a medium red object with spectral slope of 17.7%/100 nm (400-900 nm). While its opposition phase curve surge (0.2 mag/deg) is within the typical range found for other solar system objects, it displays unusually high negative polarization (min. -1.3%). Comparison with model spectra and numerical modeling of the opposition brightening and polarization effects suggest an areal mixture of absorbing (dark) and icy (bright) compounds on its surface: the mixing ratio is about 6:1 for dark and bright material of 0.21 and 0.79 single-scattering albedo and of 250 and 33 dimensionless mean free path (length multiplied by wave number), respectively.


Key words: transneptunian object -- 28978 Ixion: 2001 KX 76 -- surface properties

Offprint request: H. Boehnhardt, hboehnha@mpia-hd.mpg.de




© ESO 2004

What is OpenURL?

The OpenURL standard is a protocol for transmission of metadata describing the resource that you wish to access. An OpenURL link contains article metadata and directs it to the OpenURL server of your choice. The OpenURL server can provide access to the resource and also offer complementary services (specific search engine, export of references...). The OpenURL link can be generated by different means.
  • If your librarian has set up your subscription with an OpenURL resolver, OpenURL links appear automatically on the abstract pages.
  • You can define your own OpenURL resolver with your EDPS Account. In this case your choice will be given priority over that of your library.
  • You can use an add-on for your browser (Firefox or I.E.) to display OpenURL links on a page (see http://www.openly.com/openurlref/). You should disable this module if you wish to use the OpenURL server that you or your library have defined.