The small numbers of large Kuiper Belt objects

Journal Article · Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2014 · Astronomical Journal (New York, N.Y. Online)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-6256/147/1/2· OSTI ID:22340057

Schwamb, Megan E. ^[1]; Brown, Michael E.

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1. Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Academia Sinica, 11F of Astronomy-Mathematics Building, National Taiwan University. No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Rd, Taipei 10617, Taiwan (China)

We explore the brightness distribution of the largest and brightest (m(R) < 22) Kuiper Belt Objects (KBOs). We construct a luminosity function of the dynamically excited or hot Kuiper Belt (orbits with inclinations >5°) from the very brightest to m(R) = 23. We find for m(R) ≲ 23, a single slope appears to describe the luminosity function. We estimate that ∼12 KBOs brighter than m(R) ∼ 19.5 are present in the Kuiper Belt today. With nine bodies already discovered this suggests that the inventory of bright KBOs is nearly complete.

• OSTI ID: 22340057
• Journal Information: Astronomical Journal (New York, N.Y. Online), Vol. 147, Issue 1; Other Information: Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1538-3881
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

79 ASTROPHYSICS
COSMOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY
BRIGHTNESS
DISTRIBUTION
GALAXIES
INCLINATION
INVENTORIES
LUMINOSITY
STARS