2014/04/16 by W. M. Grundy, S. D. Benecchi, Susan Benecchi +4 · 10 citations
Physics and Astronomy · #Aerospace engineering #Astro and Planetary Science #Astronomy #Astrophysics #Binary number #Eccentricity (behavior) #Eclipse #Hubble space telescope #Observable #Occultation #Orbit (dynamics) #Orbital elements #Orbital inclination #Orbital period #Physics #Planetary Science and Exploration #Satellite #Solar System #Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies #astro-ph.EP
paper · pdf · doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2014.04.021
published in Icarus 237, 1-8 (Elsevier BV) · 15 pages, 3 figures, 5 tables
arxiv created 2014/04/16 · openalex publication_date 2014/04/26 · arxiv updated 2015/06/19 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
A new Hubble Space Telescope observation of the 7:4 resonant transneptunian binary system (385446) Manwë has shown that, of two previously reported solutions for the orbit of its satellite Thorondor, the prograde one is correct. The orbit has a period of 110.18 ± 0.02 days, semimajor axis of 6670 ± 40 km, and an eccentricity of 0.563 ± 0.007. It will be viewable edge-on from the inner solar system during 2015-2017, presenting opportunities to observe mutual occultation and eclipse events. However, the number of observable events will be small, owing to the long orbital period and expected small sizes of the bodies relative to their separation. This paper presents predictions for events observable from Earth-based telescopes and discusses the associated uncertainties and challenges.