Near-Infrared Observations of the Outer Jovian Satellites

✍ Scribed by Mark V. Sykes; Brant Nelson; Roc M. Cutri; Davy J. Kirkpatrick; Robert Hurt; Michael F. Skrutskie

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 2000
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 55 KB
• Volume: 143
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0019-1035
• DOI: 10.1006/icar.1999.6269

✦ Synopsis

On September 21, 1998, the outer jovian satellites Himalia (J6), Elara (J7), Carme (J11), Pasiphae (J8), and Sinope (J9) were detected in the J, H, and K s bandpasses in the course of the Two-Micron All Sky Survey. Similarities in near-infrared colors are consistent with the hypothesis that the outer satellites in prograde orbits are fragments of a captured C-type asteroid. The retrograde satellites in general exhibit considerable diversity. The nondetection of retrograde Ananke is significant in that it requires visible to near-infrared reddening close to that of prograde Himalia and very different from the other retrograde satellites. It is suggested that the retrograde jovian satellites are fragments of a captured parent body more heterogeneous than the prograde parent. Alternatively, it is suggested that the retrograde satellites arose from more than one retrograde capture event and possible subsequent fragmentation.