The Splitting of Double-component Active Asteroid P/2016 J1 (PANSTARRS)

DOI: 
10.3847/2041-8213/aa6036
Publication date: 
01/03/2017
Main author: 
Moreno F.
IAA authors: 
Moreno, F.;Pozuelos, F.J.
Authors: 
Moreno F., Pozuelos F.J., Novaković B., Licandro J., Cabrera-Lavers A., Bolin B., Jedicke R., Gladman B.J., Bannister M.T., Gwyn S.D.J., Vereš P., Chambers K., Chastel S., Denneau L., Flewelling H., Huber M., Schunová-Lilly E., Magnier E., Wainscoat R., Waters C., Weryk R., Farnocchia D., Micheli M.
Journal: 
Astrophysical Journal Letters
Publication type: 
Article
Volume: 
837
Pages: 
Number: 
L3
Abstract: 
We present deep imaging observations, orbital dynamics, and dust-tail model analyses of the double-component asteroid P/2016 J1 (J1-A and J1-B). The observations were acquired at the Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC) and the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope (CFHT) from mid-March to late July of 2016. A statistical analysis of backward-in-time integrations of the orbits of a large sample of clone objects of P/2016 J1-A and J1-B shows that the minimum separation between them occurred most likely ∼2300 days prior to the current perihelion passage, i.e., during the previous orbit near perihelion. This closest approach was probably linked to a fragmentation event of their parent body. Monte Carlo dust-tail models show that those two components became active simultaneously ∼250 days before the current perihelion, with comparable maximum loss rates of ∼0.7 and ∼0.5 kg s-1, and total ejected masses of 8 ×106 and 6 ×106 kg for fragments J1-A and J1-B, respectively. Consequently, the fragmentation event and the present dust activity are unrelated. The simultaneous activation times of the two components and the fact that the activity lasted 6-9 months or longer, strongly indicate ice sublimation as the most likely mechanism involved in the dust emission process. © 2017. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.
Database: 
SCOPUS
ADS
URL: 
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85014973887&doi=10.3847%2f2041-8213%2faa6036&partnerID=40&md5=0bd07207816d58c454972c1a2bdcac5d
ADS Bibcode: 
2017ApJ...837L...3M
Keywords: 
methods: numerical; minor planets, asteroids: individual (P/2016 J1 (PANSTARRS))