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Spitzer observations of 'Oumuamua and 'Oumuamua's density and shape

Authors :
Trilling, David
McNeill, Andrew
Mommert, Michael
Hora, Joseph
Farnocchia, Davide
Chodas, Paul
Giorgini, Jon
Smith, Howard
Carey, Sean
Lisse, Carey M.
Werner, Michael
Chesley, Steve
Emery, Joshua
Fazio, Giovanni
Fernandez, Yanga
Harris, Alan
Marengo, Massimo
Mueller, Michael
Roegge, Alissa
Smith, Nathan
Weaver, Harold A.
Meech, Karen
Micheli, Marco
Astronomy
Source :
American Astronomical Society, DPS meeting #50, id.100.09
Publication Year :
2018

Abstract

1I/`Oumuamua is the first confirmed interstellar body in our Solar System. Here we report on 4.5 micron observations of `Oumuamua made with the Spitzer Space Telescope on 2017 November 21-22. We did not detect the object and place an upper limit on its flux. This implies an effective spherical diameter upper limit and albedo lower limit, with a range of values that depends on what value of the thermal beaming parameter is used. We also place upper limits on the amount of dust, CO, and CO2 that are emitted from this object that are lower than previous results; we are unable to constrain the production of other gas species. We also present our estimate of `Oumuamua's density and aspect ratio (elongation). There is no description of the suite of `Oumuamua's physical properties that corresponds to any population of bodies in our Solar System. Our results extend the mystery about `Oumuamua's origin and evolution.

Details

Language :
English
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
American Astronomical Society, DPS meeting #50, id.100.09
Accession number :
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