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arXiv · 2401.12679

The visible and thermal light curve of the large Kuiper belt object (50000) Quaoar

C. Kiss·T. G. Müller·G. Marton·R. Szakáts·A. Pál·L. Molnár·E. Vilenius·M. Rengel·J. L. Ortiz·E. Fernández-Valenzuela
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Abstract

Recent stellar occultations have allowed accurate instantaneous size and apparent shape determinations of the large Kuiper belt object (50000)~Quaoar and the detection of two rings with spatially variable optical depths. In this paper we present new visible range light curve data of Quaoar from the Kepler/K2 mission, and thermal light curves at 100 and 160 $μ$m obtained with Herschel/PACS. The K2 data provide a single-peaked period of 8.88 h, very close to the previously determined 8.84 h, and it favours an asymmetric double-peaked light curve with a 17.76 h period. We clearly detected a thermal light curve with relative amplitudes of $\sim$10% at 100 and at 160 $μ$m. A detailed thermophysical modelling of the system shows that the measurements can be best fit with a triaxial ellipsoid shape, a volume-equivalent diameter of 1090 km, and axis ratios of a/b = 1.19 and b/c = 1.16. This shape matches the published occultation shape}, as well as visual and thermal light curve data. The radiometric size uncertainty remains relatively large ($\pm$40 km) as the ring and satellite contributions to the system-integrated flux densities are unknown. In the less likely case of negligible ring or satellite contributions, Quaoar would have a size above 1100 km and a thermal inertia $\leq$ 10 Jm$^{-2}$K$^{-1}$s$^{-1/2}$. A large and dark Weywot in combination with a possible ring contribution would lead to a size below 1080\,km in combination with a thermal inertia $\gtrsim$ 10 Jm$^{-2}$K$^{-1}$s$^{-1/2}$, notably higher than that of smaller Kuiper belt objects with similar albedo and colours. We find that Quaoar's density is in the range 1.67-1.77 g/cm$^3$, significantly lower than previous estimates. This density value closely matches the relationship observed between the size and density of the largest Kuiper belt objects.

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C. Kiss, T. G. Müller, G. Marton, R. Szakáts, A. Pál, L. Molnár, E. Vilenius, M. Rengel, J. L. Ortiz, E. Fernández-Valenzuela. 2024-02-21. The visible and thermal light curve of the large Kuiper belt object (50000) Quaoar. https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361%2F202348054

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