{
  "id": "2206.09949",
  "version": "v1",
  "published": "2022-06-20T18:12:41.000Z",
  "updated": "2022-06-20T18:12:41.000Z",
  "title": "Lightcurves and Rotations of Trans-Neptunian Objects in the 2:1 Mean Motion Resonance with Neptune",
  "authors": [
    "Audrey Thirouin",
    "Scott S. Sheppard"
  ],
  "comment": "Accepted for publication, Planetary Science Journal",
  "categories": [
    "astro-ph.EP"
  ],
  "abstract": "We report the rotational lightcurves of 21 trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs) in Neptune's 2:1 mean motion resonance obtained with the 6.5 m Magellan-Baade telescope and the 4.3 m Lowell Discovery Telescope. The main survey's goal is to find objects displaying a large lightcurve amplitude which is indicative of contact binaries or highly elongated objects. In our sample, two 2:1 resonant TNOs showed a significant short-term lightcurve amplitude: 2002 VD$_{130}$ and (531074) 2012 DX$_{98}$. The full lightcurve of 2012 DX$_{98}$ infers a periodicity of 20.80$\\pm$0.06h and amplitude of 0.56$\\pm$0.03mag whereas 2002 VD$_{130}$ rotates in 9.85$\\pm$0.07h with a 0.31$\\pm$0.04mag lightcurve amplitude. Based on lightcurve morphology, we classify (531074) 2012 DX$_{98}$ as a likely contact binary, but 2002 VD$_{130}$ as a likely single elongated object. Based on our sample and the lightcurves reported in the literature, we estimate the lower percentage of nearly equal-sized contact binaries at only 7-14$\\%$ in the 2:1 resonance, which is comparable to the low fraction reported for the dynamically Cold Classical trans-Neptunian objects. This low contact binary fraction in the 2:1 Neptune resonance is consistent with the lower estimate of the recent numerical modeling. We report the Sloan g', r', i' surface colors of 2002 VD$_{130}$ which is an ultra-red TNO whereas 2012 DX$_{98}$ is a very red object based on published surface colors.",
  "revisions": [
    {
      "version": "v1",
      "updated": "2022-06-20T18:12:41.000Z"
    }
  ],
  "analyses": {
    "keywords": [
      "mean motion resonance",
      "cold classical trans-neptunian objects",
      "surface colors",
      "low contact binary fraction",
      "significant short-term lightcurve amplitude"
    ],
    "note": {
      "typesetting": "TeX",
      "pages": 0,
      "language": "en",
      "license": "arXiv",
      "status": "editable"
    }
  }
}