A low density of 0.8 g cm-3 for the Trojan binary asteroid 617 Patroclus

Franck Marchis (), Daniel Hestroffer, Pascal Descamps, Jérôme Berthier, Antonin H. Bouchez, Randall D. Campbell, Jason C. Y. Chin, Marcos A. van Dam, Scott K. Hartman, Erik M. Johansson, Robert E. Lafon, David Le Mignant, Imke de Pater, Paul J. Stomski, Doug M. Summers, Frédéric Vachier, Peter L. Wizinovich and Michael H. Wong
Additional contact information
Franck Marchis: University of California
Daniel Hestroffer: UMR CNRS 8028, Observatoire de Paris
Pascal Descamps: UMR CNRS 8028, Observatoire de Paris
Jérôme Berthier: UMR CNRS 8028, Observatoire de Paris
Antonin H. Bouchez: W. M. Keck Observatory
Randall D. Campbell: W. M. Keck Observatory
Jason C. Y. Chin: W. M. Keck Observatory
Marcos A. van Dam: W. M. Keck Observatory
Scott K. Hartman: W. M. Keck Observatory
Erik M. Johansson: W. M. Keck Observatory
Robert E. Lafon: W. M. Keck Observatory
David Le Mignant: W. M. Keck Observatory
Imke de Pater: University of California
Paul J. Stomski: W. M. Keck Observatory
Doug M. Summers: W. M. Keck Observatory
Frédéric Vachier: UMR CNRS 8028, Observatoire de Paris
Peter L. Wizinovich: W. M. Keck Observatory
Michael H. Wong: University of California

Nature, 2006, vol. 439, issue 7076, 565-567

Abstract: Abstract The Trojan population consists of two swarms of asteroids following the same orbit as Jupiter and located at the L4 and L5 stable Lagrange points of the Jupiter–Sun system (leading and following Jupiter by 60°). The asteroid 617 Patroclus is the only known binary Trojan1. The orbit of this double system was hitherto unknown. Here we report that the components, separated by 680 km, move around the system's centre of mass, describing a roughly circular orbit. Using this orbital information, combined with thermal measurements to estimate the size of the components, we derive a very low density of . The components of 617 Patroclus are therefore very porous or composed mostly of water ice, suggesting that they could have been formed in the outer part of the Solar System2.

Date: 2006
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DOI: 10.1038/nature04350

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