Five new and three improved mutual orbits of transneptunian binaries

We present three improved and five new mutual orbits of transneptunian binary systems (58534) Logos-Zoe, (66652) Borasisi-Pabu, (88611) Teharonhiawako-Sawiskera, (123509) 2000 WK₁₈₃, (149780) Altjira, 2001 QY₂₉₇, 2003 QW₁₁₁, and 2003 QY₉₀ based on Hubble Space Telescope and Keck II laser guide star adaptive optics observations. Combining the five new orbit solutions with 17 previously known orbits yields a sample of 22 mutual orbits for which the period P, semimajor axis a, and eccentricity e have been determined. These orbits have mutual periods ranging from 5 to over 800 days, semimajor axes ranging from 1600 to 37,000 km, eccentricities ranging from 0 to 0.8, and system masses ranging from 2 × 10¹⁷ to 2 × 10²² kg. Based on the relative brightnesses of primaries and secondaries, most of these systems consist of near equal-sized pairs, although a few of the most massive systems are more lopsided. The observed distribution of orbital properties suggests that the most loosely-bound transneptunian binary systems are only found on dynamically cold heliocentric orbits. Of the 22 known binary mutual orbits, orientation ambiguities are now resolved for 9, of which 7 are prograde and 2 are retrograde, consistent with a random distribution of orbital orientations, but not with models predicting a strong preference for retrograde orbits. To the extent that other perturbations are not dominant, the binary systems undergo Kozai oscillations of their eccentricities and inclinations with periods of the order of tens of thousands to millions of years, some with strikingly high amplitudes.     

On-line Resources Supporting the Data, Products, and Information Infrastructure for the International DORIS Service

The International DORIS Service (IDS) was formed under the direction of the International Association of Geodesy (IAG) in 2003 to support geodetic research utilizing DORIS data and products. The IDS is organized into a hierarchy of components: network of Tracking Stations, Satellite Segment, Data Centers, Analysis Centers, Central Bureau, and Governing Board. The DORIS infrastructure consists of a globally distributed network of over 50 ground beacons and a constellation of five satellites equipped with receivers that relay range rate measurements through a central collection facility to the IDS archives. The Data Centers and Central Bureau supporting the IDS are the primary means of distributing DORIS data, products, and general information to the user community. These facilities utilize Web and ftp servers, as well as an email service, to support the users of DORIS data and products. The current status and recent developments of these components are discussed, as well as a review of available information, data, and geodetic product types.     

Zur Kristallehemie des Zinnsteins (Kassiterit)

Zusammenfassung Im Gegensatz zum künstlichen, reinen, kristallinen SnO₂ sind die natürlichen Zinnsteine fast alle mehr oder weniger tief gefärbt bis beinahe undurchsichtig. Über die Ursachen dieser Färbung was bisher nichts Sicheres bekannt, doch konnte nach den bisherigen Schrifttumsangaben vermutet werden, daß. sie irgendwie mit Gehalten an Fe, Mn, Ti, Nb und Ta in irgendeiner unbekannten Form in Beziehung zu bringen sei. Da anzunehmen war, daß diese Fremdstoffgehalte im Zinnstein auch von erheblicher Bedeutung für sein magnetisches und Oberflächenverhalte sein würden, erschien es wünschenswert, die Frage der Zinnsteinfärbung und damit die der genannten Fremdbeimengungen zu klären. Diese Aufgabe bildet den Gegenstand der vorliegenden Untersuchung.Als Dissertation von der Chemischen Fakultät der Technischen Hochschule Darmstadt angenommen am 4. 7. 1944.     

Structural architecture of the Owen Conglomerate,West Coast Range,western Tasmania: field evidence for Late Cambrian extension.

The Owen Conglomerate comprises coarse-grained siliciclastics that were deposited in response to Late Cambrian extension. The identification of normal faults that host thickened accumulations of siliciclastics is used here to support interpretation of syn-fill extension. Local mapping and section construction have identified a series of north-trending, en échelon, segmented normal faults that exhibit changes in along-strike polarity. The Late Cambrian faults are adjacent to sedimentary packages that define half-graben geometries, with an unconformity that defines basal contacts with underlying Mt Read Volcanics and onlap geometries onto the opposing basin margin. Faults that were active during deposition of the Owen Conglomerate were subsequently reversed during D₁ Middle Devonian deformation, with reverse displacement controlling the development of inversion structures defined by north-trending fold structures. Pervasive northwest-trending D₂ deformation extensively overprints earlier deformation features, and has led to the spectacular development of type 1 interference patterns that largely control outcrop distributions along the West Coast Range. Field evidence is documented in support for a simple structural history that accounts for geometries associated with Late Cambrian extension, prior to Middle Devonian inversion (D₁) and subsequent shortening (D₂).     

Mutual orbits and masses of six transneptunian binaries

We present Hubble Space Telescope observations of six binary transneptunian systems: 2000 QL₂₅₁, 2003 TJ₅₈, 2001 XR₂₅₄, 1999 OJ₄, (134860) 2000 OJ₆₇, and 2004 PB₁₀₈. The mutual orbits of these systems are found to have periods ranging from 22 to 137 days, semimajor axes ranging from 2360 to 10500 km, and eccentricities ranging from 0.09 to 0.55. These orbital parameters enable estimation of system masses ranging from 0.2 to 9.7×¹⁰¹⁸ kg. For reasonable assumptions of bulk density (0.5 to 2.0 g cm⁻³), the masses can be combined with visible photometry to constrain sizes and albedos. The resulting albedos are consistent with an emerging picture of the dynamically “Cold” Classical sub-population having relatively high albedos, compared with comparably-sized objects on more dynamically excited orbits.     

Detection of terrestrial fluorine by proton induced gamma emission (PIGE): A rapid quantification for Antarctic meteorites

Abstract— The enrichment of fluorine on the surface of Antarctic meteorites is investigated by applying the nuclear reactions ¹⁹F(p, αγ)¹⁶O or ¹⁹F(p, p'γ)¹⁹F with the proton induced gamma emission (PIGE) technique, a class of nuclear reaction analysis (NRA). Results for the Antarctic meteorites ALHA77294, TIL 82409, LEW 86015, ALHA77003, and ALH 83108 are presented. Possible sources of terrestrial F are: volcanic exhalation, tephra layers (volcanic glass), continental soil dust, or sea spray. Material from blue‐ice dust‐band samples also shows concentrations of F that are significantly higher than the bulk concentrations of meteorites. Finally, a quick investigation for Antarctic meteorites by external PIGE is proposed, leading to a F‐contamination index that supplements the qualitative ABC‐weathering index.     

Optical and infrared colors of transneptunian objects observed with HST

We present optical colors of 72 transneptunian objects (TNOs), and infrared colors of 80 TNOs obtained with the WFPC2 and NICMOS instruments, respectively, on the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). Both optical and infrared colors are available for 32 objects that overlap between the datasets. This dataset adds an especially uniform, consistent and large contribution to the overall sample of colors, particularly in the infrared. The range of our measured colors is consistent with other colors reported in the literature at both optical and infrared wavelengths. We find generally good agreement for objects measured by both us and others; 88.1% have better than 2 sigma agreement. The median absolute magnitude, H_V, magnitude of our optical sample is 7.2, modestly smaller (∼0.5 mag) than for previous samples. The median H_V in our infrared sample is 6.7. We find no new correlations between color and dynamical properties (semi-major axis, eccentricity, inclination and perihelion). We do find that colors of Classical objects with i < 6° come from a different distribution than either the Resonant or excited populations in the visible at the >99.99% level with a K-S test. The same conclusion is found in the infrared at a slightly lower significance level, 99.72%. Two Haumea collision fragments with strong near infrared ice bands are easily identified with broad HST infrared filters and point to an efficient search strategy for identifying more such objects. We find evidence for variability in (19255) 1999 VK₈, 1999 OE₄, 2000 CE₁₀₅, 1998 KG₆₂ and 1998 WX₃₁.     

UV spectrum of Enceladus

We present a far ultraviolet (FUV) spectrum of Saturn’s moon Enceladus from the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph (COS) on the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). We have put upper limits on emission from C, N, and O lines in Enceladus’ atmosphere and column densities for the C lines assuming solar resonance scattering. We find these upper limits to be relatively low—on the order of tens to thousands of Rayleighs and with C column densities on the order of 10⁸–10¹⁵ cm^?2, depending on the assumed source size. We also present a segment of a reflectance spectrum in the FUV from ～1900–2130 Å. This region was sensitive to the different ice mixtures in the model spectra reported by Hendrix et al. (Hendrix, A.R., Hansen, C.J., Holsclaw, G.M. [2010]. Icarus, 206, 608). We find the spectrum brightens quickly longward of ～1900 Å, constraining the absorption band observed by Hendrix et al. from ～170 to 190 nm. We find our data is consistent with the suggestion of Hendrix et al. of the presence of ammonia ice (or ammonia hydrate) to darken that region, and also possibly tholins to darken the mid-UV, as reported by Verbiscer et al. (Verbiscer, A.J., French, R.G., McGhee, C.A. [2005]. Icarus, 173, 66).     

Urban land use mapping: A case study of ahmedabad city and its environs

Proper urban planning and effective implementation requires reliable urban land use statistics. In this context, satellite remote sensing data has been studied using both visual and digital techniques. A portable eight-band radiometer has been used to collect spectral signatures of surface features present in Ahmedabad city and its environs. Using these signatures a suitable approach employing visual and digital techniques has been developed for urban land use/sprawl mapping. Urban land-use maps of Ahmedabad city and its environs were prepared on 1:25,000 scale and for Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority Area on 1:50,000 scale using this methodology. It has been found that edge-enhancement techniques are useful to enhance the contrast among different urban land uses. Classification techniques such as MXL and Bayes classifiers are not successful in discriminating urban land uses. Tonal characteristics alongwith other elements of interpretation are required to classify urban land uses such as residential, industrial etc. Spatial distribution of various urban and uses and the space devoted to each urban land use has been brought out.     

The International DORIS Service: genesis and early achievements

All space-geodetic techniques are now organized as separate services of the International Association of Geodesy (IAG), supporting the first pilot project “Global Geodetic Observing System (GGOS)”. The International DORIS (Détermination d’Orbite et Radiopositionnement Intégrés par Satellite) Service (IDS) was created in mid-2003 to organize a DORIS contribution to this project and to foster a larger international cooperation on this topic. The goal of this paper is to summarize the key steps that were taken to create this structure and to present its current organization and recent results. At present, more than 50 groups from 35 different countries participate in the IDS at various levels, including 43 groups hosting DORIS stations in 32 countries all around the globe. Four Analysis Centres (ACs) provide results, such as estimates of weekly or monthly station coordinates, geocentre variations or Earth polar motion, that will soon be used to generate IDS-combined products for geodesy and geodynamics. As a first test, a preliminary combination was performed for all the 2004 data from these four ACs. Three of them show RMS of weighted station residuals with respect to this combination solution between 1 and 2 cm. The main topic under investigation is a discrepancy in the scale factor of the terrestrial reference frame (TRF) to map the individual solutions into the combination solution, which reaches 6 cm (multiplying the unit-less scale factor by the Earth radius to get convert scale to millimetre in vertical at the Earth’s surface). Finally, foreseen improvements of the DORIS technology are discussed as well as future improvements concerning the service organization itself and the accuracy and reliability of its scientific products.