The Dark Red Spot on KBO Haumea

TL;DR

This paper discusses the discovery of a dark red spot on Kuiper belt object Haumea, exploring its potential implications for understanding the object's surface composition and geological history.

Contribution

It reports the identification of a dark red region on Haumea's surface and analyzes its possible origins and significance.

Findings

Discovery of a dark red spot on Haumea's surface.

The spot's composition and origin remain uncertain.

Implications for Haumea's surface processes and history.

Abstract

Kuiper belt object 136108 Haumea is one of the most fascinating bodies in our solar system. Approximately 2000x1600x1000 km in size, it is one of the largest Kuiper belt objects (KBOs) and an unusually elongated one for its size. The shape of Haumea is the result of rotational deformation due to its extremely short 3.9-hour rotation period. Unlike other 1000 km-scale KBOs which are coated in methane ice the surface of Haumea is covered in almost pure water-ice. The bulk density of Haumea, estimated around 2.6 g/cc, suggests a more rocky interior composition, different from the water-ice surface. Recently, Haumea has become the second KBO after Pluto to show observable signs of surface features. A region darker and redder than the average surface of Haumea has been identified, the composition and origin of which remain unknown. I discuss this recent finding and what it may tell us about Haumea.