| Issue |
A&A
Volume 371, Number 3, June I 2001
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Page(s) | 1150 - 1154 | |
| Section | Celestial mechanics and astrometry | |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361:20010501 | |
| Published online | 15 June 2001 | |
Analysis of Trans-Neptunian and Centaur colours: continuous trend or grouping?
1
Observatoire de Paris, DESPA, 5 place Jules Janssen, 92190 Meudon, France
2
Université de Paris VII, Paris, France
3
ESO, Alonso de Cordova 3107, Santiago de Chile, Chile
Corresponding author: M. A. Barucci, antonella.barucci@obspm.fr
Received:
4
July
2000
Accepted:
2
April
2001
We report the results of the first statistical analysis of colours (
, 
, 
, and 
)
of the Trans-Neptunian and Centaur populations. Using the same statistical techniques applied to define the
current asteroid taxonomy, we find a continuous spread of the objects between neutral
colour to very red. Pushing further the analysis, the TNOs may be split into four
groups. The differences in colour content are interpreted as a consequence of the TNOs
evolution (i.e. collisional history, space weathering, ...)
Key words: trans-Neptunian object / taxonomy / photometry / statistics
© ESO, 2001
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