Limits of Astrometric and Photometric Precision on KBOs

作者：Dunham Emilie^*; Kosiarek Molly; Markatou Evangelia Anna; Wang Amanda

来源：Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, 2014, 126(943): 863-867.

DOI：10.1086/678328

We present photometric and astrometric measurements of the Kuiper Belt Objects (KBO) Haumea and Makemake obtained between 2013 June 5 and 2013 July 31 with the 14-inch Wallace Astrophysical Observatory (WAO) telescopes. Using photometry, we determined that Haumea and Makemake have R magnitudes 17.225 +/- 0.347 and 16.850 +/- 0.107, respectively. We obtained rotational light curves for Haumea and Makemake over eight separate nights. Astrometry yielded mean residuals with respect to the JPL ephemeris of -0.0095 +/- 0.027 '' with an rms residual of 0.480 '' in R.A. and 0.261 +/- 0.019 '' with an sins residual of 0.335 in decl. for Makemake, and 0.219 +/- 0.090 '' in R.A. with an rms residual of 0.748 '', and 0.223 +/- 0.068 '' in decl. with an rms residual of 0.571 '' for Haumea. Additionally, we calculated that observing Haumea with two 14-inch telescopes and Makemake with four 14-inch telescopes could resolve their periodicity. With improved observing techniques and modern CCD cameras, it is possible to utilize small telescopes in universities around the world to observe large KBOs.

• 出版日期2014-9
• 单位MIT