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Color, composition, and thermal environment of Kuiper Belt object (486958) Arrokoth

DOIResolve DOI: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aay3705
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Affiliation
  1. National Research Council Canada. Herzberg Astronomy and Astrophysics
FormatText, Article
Abstract
The outer Solar System object (486958) Arrokoth (provisional designation 2014 MU₆₉) has been largely undisturbed since its formation. We studied its surface composition using data collected by the New Horizons spacecraft. Methanol ice is present along with organic material, which may have formed through irradiation of simple molecules. Water ice was not detected. This composition indicates hydrogenation of carbon monoxide–rich ice and/or energetic processing of methane condensed on water ice grains in the cold, outer edge of the early Solar System. There are only small regional variations in color and spectra across the surface, which suggests that Arrokoth formed from a homogeneous or well-mixed reservoir of solids. Microwave thermal emission from the winter night side is consistent with a mean brightness temperature of 29 ± 5 kelvin.
Publication date
PublisherAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science
In
  • Science 367, no. 6481, eaay3705.
LanguageEnglish
Peer reviewedYes
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Record identifier4c6190cc-72c4-4bda-946d-56df1be66d68
Record created2020-07-07
Record modified2021-09-17

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