Modeling long-term photometric data of trans-Neptunian objects and Centaurs

TL;DR

This paper discusses methods for modeling the long-term photometric behavior of trans-Neptunian objects and Centaurs to derive their physical properties like shape, pole orientation, and density, based on their rotational light-curves.

Contribution

It presents a comprehensive approach for modeling the photometric data of these distant objects to extract physical characteristics and reviews existing modeled objects.

Findings

Models can determine pole orientation and shape.

Photometric behavior reveals deviations from hydrostatic equilibrium.

Long-term data helps identify rings or peculiarities.

Abstract

Trans-Neptunian objects and Centaurs are small solar system bodies that reside in the outer parts of the solar system. These objects present photometric behaviours that are influenced due to a change in their aspect angle. Using absolute photometric measurements and rotational light-curves at different location on their orbits allow to model their photometric behaviour and obtain physical properties such as pole orientation, shape, density, and even detecting different peculiarities as departure from hydrostatic equilibrium or rings. In this work, I present how these models are performed in order to extract different physical properties. A review of the objects for which their long-term photometric behaviour has been modeled is also given.