The surface composition of large Kuiper belt object 2007 OR10

TL;DR

This study analyzes the surface composition of Kuiper belt object 2007 OR10, revealing water ice absorption and red coloration likely caused by methane retention, with implications for understanding volatile retention on such objects.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed spectral analysis of 2007 OR10, suggesting methane retention as the cause of its red coloration, expanding knowledge of surface compositions in the Kuiper belt.

Findings

2007 OR10 shows significant water ice absorption features.

The object has a notably red coloration among Kuiper belt objects.

Methane retention is proposed as the cause of the red color.

Abstract

We present photometry and spectra of the large Kuiper belt object 2007 OR10. The data show significant near-infrared absorption features due to water ice. While most objects in the Kuiper belt with water ice absorption this prominent have the optically neutral colors of water ice, 2007 OR10 is among the reddest Kuiper belt objects known. One other large Kuiper belt object -- Quaoar -- has similar red coloring and water ice absorption, and it is hypothesized that the red coloration of this object is due to irradiation of the small amounts of methane able to be retained on Quaoar. 2007 OR10, though warmer than Quaoar, is in a similar volatile retention because it is sufficiently larger that its stronger gravity can still retain methane. We propose, therefore, that the red coloration on 2007 OR10 is also caused by the retention of small amounts of methane. Positive detection will require spectra of methane on 2007 OR10 will require spectra with higher signal-to-noise. Models for volatile retention on Kuiper belt objects appear to continue to do an excellent job reproducing all of the available observations.