NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2014A-0479
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NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2014A-0479 |
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PI: Scott Sheppard, Carnegie Institution of Washington, sheppard@dtm.ciw.edu
Address: Department of Terrestrial Magnetism, 5241 Broad Branch Rd. NW, Washington, DC 20015, USA
CoI: Chad Trujillo, Gemini Observatory
Title: Beyond the Edge of the Solar System: The Sednoid Population
Abstract:
The Kuiper Belt object population has an outer edge at about 50 AU.
Sedna, discovered ten years ago, was the only known object with a
closest approach to the Sun significantly beyond this edge. Sedna's
orbit was so unusual that it required a rethink of our solar system's
origins and evolution. There are several theories as to the origin of
Sedna that can be tested by finding more. In our initial DECam survey
last year at CTIO we discovered a second Sedna-like object whose orbit
is even further beyond the Sun. Our discovery confirms the Sednoids are
the most numerous stable population of small bodies observed. Previous
surveys did not go faint enough, did not have the required long cadence,
or covered too small of sky area to find Sednoids. The dynamical and
physical properties of objects in this region offer key constraints on
the formation and evolution of our solar system. We propose to continue
our survey with DECam in order to find several more Sednoids to further
constrain formation theories.
National Optical Astronomy Observatory, 950 North Cherry Avenue, P.O. Box 26732, Tucson, Arizona 85726, Phone: (520) 318-8000, Fax: (520) 318-8360
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NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2014A-0479 |
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