Abstract:

We present V–J colors of 14 Kuiper Belt objects using new infrared (J) data combined, in most cases, with simultaneous visible (V) data. We confirm the V–J vs absolute magnitude relation reported by Jewitt and Luu (1998) for the five objects in their data set but demonstrate that the relationship does not hold for a larger sample. Kuiper Belt objects exhibit a wide range of V–J colors, but there is no correlation with heliocentric distance or orbital class. The bimodality seen in BVR colors by Tegler and Romanishin (1998) is not present in optical–infrared colors. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.

Language: English

Document Type: Research article

Affiliations: 1: Joint Astronomy Centre, 660 North A'ohoku Place, Hilo, Hawaii, 96720 2: Unit for Space Sciences & Astrophysics, School of Physical Sciences, University of Kent, Canterbury, CT2 7NR, United Kingdom 3: Joint Astronomy Centre, 660 North A'ohoku Place, Hilo, Hawaii, 96720 4: Institute for Astronomy, Woodlawn Drive, Honolulu, Hawaii, 96822 5: Unit for Space Sciences & Astrophysics, School of Physical Sciences, University of Kent, Canterbury, CT2 7NR, United Kingdom