| Issue |
A&A
Volume 388, Number 1, June II 2002
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Page(s) | L9 - L12 | |
| Section | Letters | |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361:20020533 | |
| Published online | 28 May 2002 | |
Letter to the Editor
Infrared spectroscopy of the largest known trans-Neptunian object
2001 KX
1
Centro Galileo Galilei & Telescopio Nazionale Galileo, PO Box 565, 38700, S/C de La Palma, Tenerife, Spain
2
INAF–Osservatorio Astrofisico di Arcetri, Largo E. Fermi 5, 50125 Firenze, Italy
Corresponding author: J. Licandro, licandro@tng.iac.es
Received:
20
March
2002
Accepted:
5
April
2002
We report complete near-infrared (0.9–2.4 μm) spectral observations of the largest know trans-Neptunian objects (TNO) 28976 = 2001 KX76 taken in two different nights using the new Near Infrared Camera Spectrometer (NICS) attached to the 3.56 m Telescopio Nazionale Galileo (TNG). The spectra are featureless and correspond to a neutral colored object. Our observations indicate that the surface of 2001 KX76 is probably highly evolved due to long term irradiation, and that collisional resurfacing processes have not played an important role in its evolution.
Key words: minor planets / comets / infrared / trans-Neptunian objects
© ESO, 2002
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