Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
B. J. Buratti, M. D. Hicks, E. Kramer, J. Bauer, D. R. Ciardi, M. B. Lund, K. J. Lawrence
Summary: Near-infrared observations of the Pluto-Charon system revealed significant opposition surges in the last half degree of solar phase angle, with different geometric albedo values possibly attributed to seasonal volatile transport and active geological processes.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Dionysios Gakis, Konstantinos N. Gourgouliatos
Summary: Using fast Fourier transforms, this study identifies a series of oscillations in the orbits of the four small moons in the Pluto-Charon system, induced by the binary dwarf planet of Pluto and Charon. The results suggest that these moon orbits can be modeled as a superposition of inevitable oscillations, even with zero eccentricity. Gravitational effects between the moons, especially the lighter ones, play a significant role in their long-term evolution and dominate the low-frequency region of the power spectrum.
ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Renu Malhotra, Takashi Ito
Summary: The unusual properties of Pluto's orbit provide evidence for the orbital migration of giant planets in the early solar system. However, some properties remain enigmatic. This study investigates the gravitational effects of the giant planets on Pluto's orbit and finds that the latitudinal constraint is possible due to the orbital architecture of other giant planets. Additionally, Jupiter has a stabilizing influence while Uranus has a destabilizing influence on Pluto's orbit. Overall, Pluto's orbit is surprisingly close to a zone of strong chaos.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
James T. Keane, Simon B. Porter, Ross A. Beyer, Orkan M. Umurhan, William B. McKinnon, Jeffrey M. Moore, John R. Spencer, S. Alan Stern, Carver J. Bierson, Richard P. Binzel, Douglas P. Hamilton, Carey M. Lisse, Xiaochen Mao, Silvia Protopapa, Paul M. Schenk, Mark R. Showalter, John A. Stansberry, Oliver L. White, Anne J. Verbiscer, Joel W. Parker, Catherine B. Olkin, Harold A. Weaver, Kelsi N. Singer
Summary: NASA's New Horizons mission flew by a small Kuiper Belt Object (KBO), (486958) Arrokoth, revealing its interesting geological features and geophysical environment. Arrokoth's surface features have a complex relationship with its geophysical environment, with bright material concentrated in low gravity areas. By inferring density, it was found that Arrokoth has a low bulk density, which is crucial for understanding the formation of planetesimals in the early Solar System.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-PLANETS
(2022)
Review
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Jeffrey M. Moore, William B. McKinnon
Summary: Pluto and Charon exhibit diverse geologies, surface compositions, and crater retention ages despite their similar densities. Pluto's surface reflects significant surface-atmosphere interactions, while Charon displays evidence of earlier endogenic vigor. The presence of potential subsurface oceans on both bodies suggests sustained internal heat release. These findings may have implications for understanding the geologic history of dwarf planets in the Kuiper belt.
ANNUAL REVIEW OF EARTH AND PLANETARY SCIENCES, VOL 49, 2021
(2021)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Jason D. Hofgartner, Bonnie J. Buratti, Susan D. Benecchi, Ross A. Beyer, Andrew Cheng, James T. Keane, Tod R. Lauer, Catherine B. Olkin, Joel W. Parker, Kelsi N. Singer, John R. Spencer, S. Alan Stern, Anne J. Verbiscer, Harold A. Weaver
Summary: On January 1st, 2019, the New Horizons spacecraft flew by the classical Kuiper belt object ArMkoth, analyzing its geometric albedo and presenting maps of its normal reflectance and hemispherical albedo. Arrokoth's properties suggest it is a cold classical Kuiper belt object, with a bilobate shape and consistent reflectance distributions between the two lobes. The average hemispherical albedo of ArMkoth is 0.063 at 610 nm.
Review
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Derek S. Nelson, Frederic J. Pelletier, Marc W. Buie, Jeremy A. Bauman, Joel T. Fischetti, Yanping Guo, Stephen D. J. Gwyn, Mark E. Holdridge, J. J. Kavelaars, Erik J. Lessac-Chenen, Catherine B. Olkin, John Y. Pelgrift, Simon B. Porter, Gabe D. Rogers, Michael J. Salinas, John R. Spencer, Dale R. Stanbridge, S. Alan Stern, Harold A. Weaver, Bobby G. Williams, Kenneth E. Williams
Summary: The New Horizons mission successfully flew by the distant Kuiper-Belt Object Arrokoth, achieving the farthest planetary encounter to date. The navigation strategy involved close collaboration between the science and navigation teams to estimate the target's orbit and reduce uncertainties through various measurements and methods.
SPACE SCIENCE REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Scott J. Kenyon, Benjamin C. Bromley
Summary: Based on numerical calculations, the long-term evolution of circumbinary debris from the Pluto-Charon giant impact is studied. Most solids are ejected from the system due to dynamical interactions with Pluto and Charon over timescales of 100-1000 yr. The resulting circumbinary disk in the Pluto-Charon orbital plane is more extended compared to narrow rings produced from other collision debris, but may be less suitable for producing small circumbinary satellites.
ASTRONOMICAL JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Beibei Liu, Sean N. Raymond, Seth A. Jacobson
Summary: Recent studies suggest that the orbital structure of the Solar System may have been shaped by the dispersal of the gaseous disk, triggering instability among the giant planets. This early giant planet instability likely influenced the formation of terrestrial planets and could explain the smaller mass of Mars compared to Earth.
Review
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Benjamin P. Weiss, Xue-Ning Bai, Roger R. Fu
Summary: Recent advances in understanding magnetism in the solar nebula and protoplanetary disks show that magnetic fields play a crucial role in planetary formation and nebular evolution. Paleomagnetic measurements indicate field strengths consistent with observed protostellar accretion rates, suggesting magnetism is involved in mass transport in PPDs. Paleomagnetic studies also reveal decreasing field strengths in the inner and outer solar system over time, similar to the observed lifetimes of extrasolar protoplanetary disks.
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Bjorn J. R. Davidsson
Summary: The researcher used the numerical simulation program NIMBUS to study the thermophysical evolution of planetesimals in the primordial disc before its disruption, finding that bodies with diameters ranging 4-200 km lost all their CO ice. In addition, they discussed the significant crystallization, CO:CO2 segregation, and CO2 sublimation that some bodies in the primordial disc may have experienced.
MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY
(2021)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Sara E. Duval, Arthur D. Bosman, Edwin A. Bergin
Summary: This study investigates the chemical composition of the inner region of protoplanetary disks, highlighting the significant impact of water UV shielding on chemical abundances, particularly in explaining observed abundances of hydrocarbons and nitriles.
ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Stuart J. Robbins, Kelsi N. Singer
Summary: The size-frequency distribution (SFD) of objects in the solar system is influenced by their formation and dynamic evolution, with bodies in different regions likely experiencing different histories. Accurate measurement of SFD is aided by impact craters, formed from smaller bodies striking larger ones, with crater SFDs often easier to measure than the impactors themselves. Results from studies on Pluto and Charon's crater populations show a transition to shallower SFD near 10-15 km, with slopes of approximately -1.7 +/- 0.2 for smaller craters and -3.8 +/- 0.6 for larger craters, consistent with previous findings.
PLANETARY SCIENCE JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
David Vizgan, A. Meredith Hughes, Evan S. Carter, Kevin M. Flaherty, Margaret Pan, Eugene Chiang, Hilke Schlichting, David J. Wilner, Sean M. Andrews, John M. Carpenter, Attila Moor, Meredith A. MacGregor
Summary: Debris disks, which are scaled-up analogs of the Kuiper Belt, generate dust through collisions between planetesimals. By observing the debris disk around the nearby M dwarf AU Microscopii, researchers discovered that smaller bodies are more easily disrupted by collisions, contradicting current assumptions.
ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Debanjan Sengupta, Paul R. Estrada, Jeffrey N. Cuzzi, Munir Humayun
Summary: Rocky bodies of the inner solar system show a systematic depletion of moderately volatile elements. According to a new hypothesis, these elements are irreversibly removed from high nebula altitudes through open-system loss processes, leaving behind more refractory solids closer to the midplane. This loss overcomes a critical difficulty encountered by previous models.
ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Alissa M. Earle, R. P. Binzel, J. T. Keane, W. M. Grundy, C. J. A. Howett, C. B. Olkin, A. H. Parker, F. Scipioni, K. Ennico, S. A. Stern, H. A. Weaver, L. A. Young
Summary: The New Horizons spacecraft's exploration of the Pluto system in July 2015 has provided unprecedented detailed information about Pluto's origin, surface processes, volatile transport cycles, and atmosphere. This study focuses on the volatile distribution in and around craters, using data from the Ralph/MVIC instrument, and reveals differences in compositional characteristics in different latitudinal bands. The findings highlight the importance of understanding the effects of small scale topography on volatile transport.
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
B. J. Holler, M. D. Yanez, S. Protopapa, L. A. Young, A. J. Verbiscer, N. J. Chanover, W. M. Grundy
Summary: Spectral observation campaign of Pluto revealed significant changes in CH4 band areas from 2014 to 2017, likely due to sublimation of more-volatile N-2 from Pluto's northern latitudes before the northern hemisphere summer solstice in 2029, leading to an increase in CH4 concentration.
Review
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Philip T. Metzger, W. M. Grundy, Alan Stern, James F. Bell, Charlene E. Detelich, Kirby Runyon, Michael Summers, Mark V. Sykes
Summary: The development of taxonomical concepts is crucial for planetary science, although its importance has been overshadowed by unique historical developments. In the past, astronomers classified both primaries and satellites as planets, but the non-scientific public had a folk concept that contradicted the scientific view. Modern astronomers now realize that a taxonomy aligned with geological complexity is the most useful approach.
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Jason D. Hofgartner, Samuel P. D. Birch, Julie Castillo, Will M. Grundy, Candice J. Hansen, Alexander G. Hayes, Carly J. A. Howett, Terry A. Hurford, Emily S. Martin, Karl L. Mitchell, Tom A. Nordheim, Michael J. Poston, Louise M. Prockter, Lynnae C. Quick, Paul Schenk, Rebecca N. Schindhelm, Orkan M. Umurhan
Summary: This article discusses the plume phenomena on Neptune's moon Triton, introduces different eruption hypotheses, and possible observational tests. It points out the need for further research on eruption hypotheses of Triton's plumes and proposes five feasible testing methods.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kelsi N. Singer, Oliver L. White, Bernard Schmitt, Erika L. Rader, Silvia Protopapa, William M. Grundy, Dale P. Cruikshank, Tanguy Bertrand, Paul M. Schenk, William B. McKinnon, S. Alan Stern, Rajani D. Dhingra, Kirby D. Runyon, Ross A. Beyer, Veronica J. Bray, Cristina Dalle Ore, John R. Spencer, Jeffrey M. Moore, Francis Nimmo, James T. Keane, Leslie A. Young, Catherine B. Olkin, Tod R. Lauer, Harold A. Weaver, Kimberly Ennico-Smith
Summary: The New Horizons spacecraft returned images and data showing that Pluto's terrains have diverse ages, ranging from ancient to very young. One region stands out with very few impact craters and is dominated by huge rises with hummocky flanks. It is believed that this terrain was resurfaced by cryovolcanic processes, which are unique to Pluto and suggest unexpected, active geology in Pluto's history.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Jason C. Cook, Silvia Protopapa, Cristina M. Dalle Ore, Dale P. Cruikshank, William M. Grundy, Carey M. Lisse, Bernard Schmitt, Anne Verbiscer, Kelsi N. Singer, John Spencer, S. Alan Stern, Harold A. Weaver
Summary: In this study, we examined the 2.21-mu m band of Charon using data obtained by New Horizons/LEISA. We found no significant variation in this band as Charon rotates. The 2.21-mu m band on Charon is several times weaker than on other moons, and we attribute it to NH4Cl based on the appearance of a weaker band at 2.24-mu m. Additionally, we observed two never-before-reported absorption features in Charon's spectrum at 1.60 and 1.63-mu m, which may also be explained by the presence of NH4Cl. If NH3-H2O ice mixtures are present on Charon, they must be a small fraction of the overall composition.
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Eric Quirico, Aurore Bacmann, Cedric Wolters, Basile Auge, Laurene Flandinet, Thibault Launois, John F. Cooper, Veronique Vuitton, Thomas Gautier, Lora Jovanovic, Philippe Boduch, Hermann Rothard, Leopold Desage, Alexandre Faure, Bernard Schmitt, Olivier Poch, William M. Grundy, Silvia Protopapa, Sonia Fornasier, Dale P. Cruikshank, S. Alan Stern
Summary: The New Horizons spacecraft conducted a survey on the classical Kuiper Belt Object (KBO) Arrokoth and discovered a small bilobed object with a red surface. This red color is attributed to reddish organic materials, possibly inherited from the protosolar disk or formed through radiolytic processes. Numerical calculations and experimental simulations were carried out to study the radiolytic scenario. It was found that sputtering is mainly controlled by Solar Wind, and the sputtering rate varies depending on the nature of the material.
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Richard J. J. Cartwright, David R. R. DeColibus, Julie C. Castillo-Rogez, Chloe B. B. Beddingfield, William M. M. Grundy, Tom A. A. Nordheim
Summary: By analyzing the spectra of Umbriel, we found absorption bands indicating the presence of organic materials, ammonia ice, and NH3-H2O mixtures on its surface, which are spatially associated with geological features. However, some of the candidate constituents do not match Umbriel's spectral properties in other wavelength regions, highlighting the gaps in our understanding of the surface compositions of Uranian moons.
PLANETARY SCIENCE JOURNAL
(2023)
Review
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Keith S. Noll, Michael E. Brown, Marc W. Buie, William M. Grundy, Harold F. Levison, Simone Marchi, Catherine B. Olkin, S. Alan Stern, Harold A. Weaver
Summary: This chapter reviews the current state of knowledge of Trojan asteroid satellites and discusses their scientific utility and potential observations.
SPACE SCIENCE REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Jason D. D. Hofgartner, Bonnie J. J. Buratti, Ross A. A. Beyer, Kimberly Ennico, Will M. M. Grundy, Carly J. A. Howett, Perianne E. E. Johnson, Tod R. R. Lauer, Catherine B. B. Olkin, John R. R. Spencer, S. Alan Stern, Harold A. A. Weaver, Leslie A. A. Young
Summary: The New Horizons encounter with the Pluto system revealed the spatial variability of Pluto's surface, including dark, bright, and intermediate terrains, refractory and volatile ices, and ongoing/recent processes. The albedo of Pluto, which quantifies absorbed solar energy, provides insights into volatile transport and surface processes. The study measured the bolometric albedo of Cthulhu and Sputnik Planitia, finding an increase in albedo with solar incidence angle. A map of Pluto's incidence-angle-average albedo showed the variability and sharpness of albedo at different locations.
PLANETARY SCIENCE JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Orkan M. Umurhan, William M. Grundy, Michael K. Bird, Ross Beyer, James T. Keane, Ivan R. Linscott, Samuel Birch, Carver Bierson, Leslie A. Young, S. Alan Stern, Carey M. Lisse, Carly J. A. Howett, Silvia Protopapa, John R. Spencer, Richard P. Binzel, William B. McKinnon, Tod R. Lauer, Harold A. Weaver, Catherine B. Olkin, Kelsi N. Singer, Anne J. Verbiscer, Alex H. Parker
Summary: A near-surface thermal model for Arrokoth was developed based on the recent release of its 105 facet model. The model takes into account surface reradiation and predicts different surface temperatures for different regions. The thermal solutions show that Arrokoth's orbitally averaged temperatures vary across different regions, while the thermal reradiation from the surrounding surface is minimal.
PLANETARY SCIENCE JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Oriel A. Humes, Cristina A. Thomas, Joshua P. Emery, Will M. Grundy
Summary: The Lucy mission aims to understand the history of the solar system by examining primitive asteroids co-orbital with Jupiter. Using spectroscopy, the mission has discovered unique spectral features on the surfaces of these asteroids, and an optical model has been developed to explain them.
PLANETARY SCIENCE JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
C. M. Lisse, G. R. Gladstone, L. A. Young, D. P. Cruikshank, S. A. Sandford, B. Schmitt, S. A. Stern, H. A. Weaver, O. Umurhan, Y. J. Pendleton, J. T. Keane, J. M. Parker, R. P. Binzel, A. M. Earle, M. Horanyi, M. El-Maarry, A. F. Cheng, J. M. Moore, W. B. McKinnon, W. M. Grundy, J. J. Kavelaars, I. R. Linscott, W. Lyra, B. L. Lewis, D. T. Britt, J. R. Spencer, C. B. Olkin, R. L. McNutt, H. A. Elliott, N. Dello-Russo, J. K. Steckloff, M. Neveu, O. Mousis
Summary: This study presents predictions about the rarity of majority hypervolatile ices in Kuiper Belt objects and Oort Cloud comets, based on new ice species-specific data. These predictions have important implications for the study of the Oort Cloud, including the determination of first objects emplaced into the Oort Cloud, the measurement of gas abundance ratios in the protoplanetary disk, and statistical constraints on the emplacement of objects into the Oort Cloud.
PLANETARY SCIENCE JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
M. K. Bird, I. R. Linscott, G. L. Tyler, O. M. Umurhan, R. A. Beyer, W. M. Grundy, C. M. Lisse, D. P. Hinson, M. Paetzold, S. A. Stern, H. A. Weaver, C. B. Olkin, L. A. Young, J. R. Spencer, K. N. Singer, J. M. Moore, G. R. Gladstone, C. C. DeBoy, M. Vincent, S. B. Porter
Summary: The New Horizons spacecraft conducted a reconnaissance mission of the Kuiper Belt object Arrokoth, obtaining thermal emission measurements and deriving important parameters like global emissivity and thermal inertia. The results provide insights into the nature of this distant solar system body.
PLANETARY SCIENCE JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Richard J. Cartwright, Tom A. Nordheim, David R. DeColibus, William M. Grundy, Bryan J. Holler, Chloe B. Beddingfield, Michael M. Sori, Michael P. Lucas, Catherine M. Elder, Leonardo H. Regoli, Dale P. Cruikshank, Joshua P. Emery, Erin J. Leonard, Corey J. Cochrane
Summary: CO2 ice on the trailing hemisphere of Ariel is mainly concentrated, while absent on the leading hemisphere. The asymmetry in the distribution of CO2 ice could be attributed to radiolytic production of CO2, formed by charged particle bombardment of H2O ice and carbonaceous material. The latitudinal trend of CO2 ice distribution is influenced by radiolytic production at high latitudes and subsequent migration to low-latitude cold traps.
PLANETARY SCIENCE JOURNAL
(2022)
