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A dense ring of the trans-Neptunian object Quaoar outside its Roche limit

Author

Listed:
  • B. E. Morgado

    (Federal University of Rio de Janeiro - Observatory of Valongo
    National Observatory/MCTI
    Interinstitutional e-Astronomy Laboratory (LIneA))

  • B. Sicardy

    (University PSL, CNRS, UPMC, Sorbonne University, University of Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris City)

  • F. Braga-Ribas

    (Federal University of Technology, Paraná (UTFPR/DAFIS))

  • J. L. Ortiz

    (Institute of Astrophysics at Andalucía, IAA-CSIC)

  • H. Salo

    (University of Oulu)

  • F. Vachier

    (PSL Research University, CNRS, Sorbonne University, UPMC University of Paris, University of Lille)

  • J. Desmars

    (PSL Research University, CNRS, Sorbonne University, UPMC University of Paris, University of Lille
    Polytechnic Institute of Advanced Sciences (IPSA))

  • C. L. Pereira

    (National Observatory/MCTI
    Interinstitutional e-Astronomy Laboratory (LIneA))

  • P. Santos-Sanz

    (Institute of Astrophysics at Andalucía, IAA-CSIC)

  • R. Sfair

    (Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen
    UNESP - São Paulo State University)

  • T. Santana

    (University PSL, CNRS, UPMC, Sorbonne University, University of Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris City
    UNESP - São Paulo State University)

  • M. Assafin

    (Federal University of Rio de Janeiro - Observatory of Valongo
    Interinstitutional e-Astronomy Laboratory (LIneA))

  • R. Vieira-Martins

    (National Observatory/MCTI
    Interinstitutional e-Astronomy Laboratory (LIneA))

  • A. R. Gomes-Júnior

    (Interinstitutional e-Astronomy Laboratory (LIneA)
    UNESP - São Paulo State University
    Federal University of Uberlândia)

  • G. Margoti

    (Federal University of Technology, Paraná (UTFPR/DAFIS))

  • V. S. Dhillon

    (University of Sheffield
    Institute of Astrophysics of The Canary Islands)

  • E. Fernández-Valenzuela

    (University of Central Florida)

  • J. Broughton

    (Reedy Creek Observatory
    Trans-Tasman Occultation Alliance (TTOA))

  • J. Bradshaw

    (Samford Valley Observatory (Q79))

  • R. Langersek

    (Algester Astronomical Observatory)

  • G. Benedetti-Rossi

    (Interinstitutional e-Astronomy Laboratory (LIneA)
    UNESP - São Paulo State University)

  • D. Souami

    (University PSL, CNRS, UPMC, Sorbonne University, University of Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris City
    Lagrange Laboratory UMR7293 CNRS
    naXys, University of Namur)

  • B. J. Holler

    (Space Telescope Science Institute)

  • M. Kretlow

    (Institute of Astrophysics at Andalucía, IAA-CSIC
    International Occultation Timing Association / European Section
    International Amateur Observatory e.V. (IAS))

  • R. C. Boufleur

    (National Observatory/MCTI
    Interinstitutional e-Astronomy Laboratory (LIneA))

  • J. I. B. Camargo

    (National Observatory/MCTI
    Interinstitutional e-Astronomy Laboratory (LIneA))

  • R. Duffard

    (Institute of Astrophysics at Andalucía, IAA-CSIC)

  • W. Beisker

    (International Occultation Timing Association / European Section
    International Amateur Observatory e.V. (IAS))

  • N. Morales

    (Institute of Astrophysics at Andalucía, IAA-CSIC)

  • J. Lecacheux

    (University PSL, CNRS, UPMC, Sorbonne University, University of Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris City)

  • F. L. Rommel

    (National Observatory/MCTI
    Interinstitutional e-Astronomy Laboratory (LIneA))

  • D. Herald

    (Trans-Tasman Occultation Alliance (TTOA))

  • W. Benz

    (University of Bern
    University of Bern)

  • E. Jehin

    (University of Liège)

  • F. Jankowsky

    (Heidelberg-Königstuhl State Observatory)

  • T. R. Marsh

    (University of Warwick)

  • S. P. Littlefair

    (University of Sheffield)

  • G. Bruno

    (INAF, Catania Astrophysical Observatory)

  • I. Pagano

    (INAF, Catania Astrophysical Observatory)

  • A. Brandeker

    (Stockholm University, AlbaNova University Center)

  • A. Collier-Cameron

    (University of St Andrews, North Haugh)

  • H. G. Florén

    (Stockholm University, AlbaNova University Center)

  • N. Hara

    (Astronomical Observatory at the University of Geneva)

  • G. Olofsson

    (Stockholm University, AlbaNova University Center)

  • T. G. Wilson

    (University of St Andrews, North Haugh)

  • Z. Benkhaldoun

    (Cadi Ayyad University)

  • R. Busuttil

    (The Open University, Walton Hall)

  • A. Burdanov

    (MIT)

  • M. Ferrais

    (University of Aix Marseille, CNRS, CNES)

  • D. Gault

    (Trans-Tasman Occultation Alliance (TTOA))

  • M. Gillon

    (University of Liège)

  • W. Hanna

    (Trans-Tasman Occultation Alliance (TTOA))

  • S. Kerr

    (Trans-Tasman Occultation Alliance (TTOA)
    Astronomical Association of Queensland)

  • U. Kolb

    (The Open University, Walton Hall)

  • P. Nosworthy

    (Trans-Tasman Occultation Alliance (TTOA))

  • D. Sebastian

    (University of Birmingham)

  • C. Snodgrass

    (University of Edinburgh, Royal Observatory)

  • J. P. Teng

    (AGORA Observatory of Makes, AGORA)

  • J. Wit

    (MIT)

Abstract

Planetary rings are observed not only around giant planets1, but also around small bodies such as the Centaur Chariklo2 and the dwarf planet Haumea3. Up to now, all known dense rings were located close enough to their parent bodies, being inside the Roche limit, where tidal forces prevent material with reasonable densities from aggregating into a satellite. Here we report observations of an inhomogeneous ring around the trans-Neptunian body (50000) Quaoar. This trans-Neptunian object has an estimated radius4 of 555 km and possesses a roughly 80-km satellite5 (Weywot) that orbits at 24 Quaoar radii6,7. The detected ring orbits at 7.4 radii from the central body, which is well outside Quaoar’s classical Roche limit, thus indicating that this limit does not always determine where ring material can survive. Our local collisional simulations show that elastic collisions, based on laboratory experiments8, can maintain a ring far away from the body. Moreover, Quaoar’s ring orbits close to the 1/3 spin–orbit resonance9 with Quaoar, a property shared by Chariklo’s2,10,11 and Haumea’s3 rings, suggesting that this resonance plays a key role in ring confinement for small bodies.

Suggested Citation

  • B. E. Morgado & B. Sicardy & F. Braga-Ribas & J. L. Ortiz & H. Salo & F. Vachier & J. Desmars & C. L. Pereira & P. Santos-Sanz & R. Sfair & T. Santana & M. Assafin & R. Vieira-Martins & A. R. Gomes-Jú, 2023. "A dense ring of the trans-Neptunian object Quaoar outside its Roche limit," Nature, Nature, vol. 614(7947), pages 239-243, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:614:y:2023:i:7947:d:10.1038_s41586-022-05629-6
    DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-05629-6
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