The Small Numbers of Large Kuiper Belt Objects
Earth and Planetary Astrophysics
2015-06-17 v1
Abstract
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 degrees) 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 ~12 KBOs brighter than m(R)~19.5 are present in the Kuiper belt today. With 9 bodies already discovered this suggests that the inventory of bright KBOs is nearly complete.
Cite
@article{arxiv.1310.7049,
title = {The Small Numbers of Large Kuiper Belt Objects},
author = {Megan E. Schwamb and Michael E. Brown and Wesley C. Fraser},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1310.7049},
year = {2015}
}
Comments
Accepted to AJ