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W. Romanishin (U. of Oklahoma), S. C. Tegler (Northern Arizona U.), K. Noll (STScI)
We have measured the separation, position angle, magnitudes and colors of the components of the trans-Neptunian binary 2000 CF105, using observations made with the Keck I telescope in April 2002 and in March 2003. A grid search image modeling technique resulted in uncertainties on the system parameters from the Keck data approaching the level of those derived from previous Hubble Space Telescope images. Combined with previously reported Hubble observations, we now have three observations over a 415 day arc. Although our data on the orbit of this system is still very fragmentary, it seems likely that the system has a period of at least 5 years. We examine possible orbits for the system, and find that, unless the system has a very small mass, the orbit is likely eccentric and significantly inclined to the plane of the sky.
We thank NASA for providing observing time at the Keck Observatory. and for support through grants from the Space Telescope Science Institute and through the NASA Planetary Astronomy Program (NAG5-12694).
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Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 35 #4
© 2003. The American Astronomical Soceity.