Is Sedna another Triton?
Abstract
90377 Sedna is, so far, the largest and most distant trans-neptunian object. It was observed at visible and near-infrared wavelengths using simultaneously two 8.2 m telescopes at the Very Large Telescope of the European Southern Observatory. The spectrum of Sedna suggests the presence on its surface of different ices (total abundance >50%). Its surface composition is different from that determined for other trans-neptunian objects, and apparently resembles that of Triton, particularly in terms of the possible presence of nitrogen and methane ices.
- Publication:
-
Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Pub Date:
- August 2005
- DOI:
- 10.1051/0004-6361:200500144
- Bibcode:
- 2005A&A...439L...1B
- Keywords:
-
- TNOs;
- visible;
- infrared;
- spectroscopy;
- photometry