Cited by 270Astro and Planetary SciencePlanetary Science and ExplorationAstrophysics and Star Formation Studies

The Composition of Centaur 5145 Pholus

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Cruikshank, D.P., Roush, T.L., Bartholomew, M.J., Geballe, T.R., Pendleton, Y.J., White, S.M., Bell, J.F., Davies, J.K. +7 more·1998·Icarus

Abstract

We present a new spectrum of the Centaur object 5145 Pholus between 1.15 and 2.4 μm. We model this, and the previously published (0.4- to 1.0-μm) spectrum, using Hapke scattering theory. Seen in absorption are the 2.04-μm band of H2O ice and a strong band at 2.27 μm, interpreted as frozen methanol and/or a photolytic product of methanol having small molecular weight. The presence of small molecules is indicative of a chemically primitive surface, since heating and other processes remove the light hydrocarbons in favor of macromolecular carbon of the kind found in carbonaceous meteorites. The unusually red slope of Pholus' spectrum is matched by fine grains of a refractory organic solid (tholin), as found previously by M. Hoffmannet al. (1993,J. Geophys. Res.98, 7403–7407) and P. D. Wilsonet al.(1994,Icarus107, 288–303). Olivine (which we model with Fo 82) also appears to be present on Pholus. We present a five-component model for the composite spectrum of all spectroscopic and photometric data available for 5145 Pholus and conclude that this is a primitive object which has not yet been substantially processed by solar heat. The properties of Pholus are those of the nucleus of a large comet that has never been active.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1006/icar.1998.5997

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108 of 108 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • A red spectral slope over 520-950 nm is not unexpected and is characteristic of many primitive objects in the solar system.

    “However, we note that a red spectral slope over this range is not unexpected and is characteristic of many primitive objects in our solar system (Cruikshank et al. 1998;Jewitt & Luu 1998;Bus & Binzel 2002;Sheppard 2010;Carry et al. 2016).”

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Authors
Cruikshank, D. P., Roush, T. L., Bartholomew, M. J., Geballe, T. R., Pendleton, Y. J., White, S. M., Bell, J. F., Davies, J. K., Owen, T. C., de Bergh, C., Tholen, D. J., Bernstein, M. P., Brown, R. H., Tryka, K. A., & Dalle Ore, C. M.
Affiliations
  • Ames Research Center (US)
  • University of Hawaii at Hilo (US)
  • Cornell University (US)
  • University of Arizona (US)
  • Northern Arizona University (US)
Venue
Icarus
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
1998-10
Volume
135
Issue
2
Pages
389-407
ISSN
0019-1035 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2057433998
Cited by
270
References
112
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 17
FWCI
10.89
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
Icarus (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Astro and Planetary Science
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Planetary Science and Exploration
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Astrophysics and Star Formation Studies
Keywords
Centaur asteroids, asteroid surface composition, near-infrared spectra, tholins, olivine, solar heating

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