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C. de Bergh, A. Delsanti (LESIA - Observatoire de Paris, France), G.-P. Tozzi (INAF - Osservatorio Astrofisico di Arcetri, Italy), A. Doressoundiram (LESIA - Observatoire de Paris, France), E. Dotto (INAF - Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma, Italy), M.A. Barucci (LESIA - Observatoire de Paris, France)
We have performed with the 8-m telescopes of the ESO-VLT (Very Large Telescope) in Chile visible and near-infrared spectroscopy and photometry of the Transneptunian Object (TNO) 2004 DW. This object, one of the largest known TNOs, is a Plutino. The visible spectrum (covering the range 0.4-0.8 micron) was obtained on April 11, 2004, and the near-infrared spectrum (with the J, H and K parts recorded at different times but connected together by means of JHK photometry made each night) on April 11, 12 and 21, 2004. The spectra are of higher quality than those obtained by Fornasier et al. (Astron. Astrophys., L43, 422 , 2004) for this object.
The visible reflectance spectrum is featureless and nearly flat but with a very slight red slope, and in good agreement with the BVRI photometry performed the same night (indicating nearly solar colors). In the near-infrared, strong absorptions due to water ice are detected at 1.5 and 2 micron. Attempts to model the spectrum in order to retrieve information on the surface composition are presented.
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Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 36 #4
© 2004. The American Astronomical Soceity.