Detection of methane on Kuiper Belt Object (50000) Quaoar

TL;DR

This study reports the detection of methane and other hydrocarbons on Kuiper Belt Object Quaoar, indicating its transitional nature between volatile-poor and volatile-rich KBOs, based on near-infrared spectral analysis.

Contribution

First detection of methane and hydrocarbons on Quaoar, providing insights into its composition and transitional status among Kuiper Belt objects.

Findings

Detection of crystalline water ice, methane, and ethane on Quaoar

Quaoar is a transitional object between small and large KBOs

Volatile ices are present on only a few KBOs

Abstract

The near-infrared spectrum of (50000) Quaoar obtained at the Keck Observatory shows distinct absorption features of crystalline water ice, solid methane and ethane, and possibly other higher order hydrocarbons. Quaoar is only the fifth Kuiper belt object on which volatile ices have been detected. The small amount of methane on an otherwise water ice dominated surface suggests that Quaoar is a transition object between the dominant volatile-poor small Kuiper belt objects (KBOs) and the few volatile-rich large KBOs such as Pluto and Eris.