[en] Context. Trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs) are considered to be among the most primitive objects in our Solar System. Knowledge of their primary physical properties is essential for understanding their origin and the evolution of the outer Solar System. In this context, stellar occultations are a powerful and sensitive technique for studying these distant and faint objects. Aims. We aim to obtain the size, shape, absolute magnitude, and geometric albedo for TNO (143707) 2003 UY117. Methods. We predicted a stellar occultation by this TNO for 2020 October 23 UT and ran a specific campaign to investigate this event. We derived the projected profile shape and size from the occultation observations by means of an elliptical fit to the occultation chords. We also performed photometric observations of (143707) 2003 UY117 to obtain the absolute magnitude and the rotational period from the observed rotational light curve. Finally, we combined these results to derive the three-dimensional shape, volume-equivalent diameter, and geometric albedo for this TNO. Results. From the stellar occultation, we obtained a projected ellipse with axes of (282 ± 18) × (184 ± 32) km. The area-equivalent diameter for this ellipse is Deq,A = 228 ± 21 km. From our photometric R band observations, we derived an absolute magnitude of HV = 5.97 ± 0.07 mag using V ‑ R = 0.46 ± 0.07 mag, which was derived from a V band subset of these data. The rotational light curve has a peak-to-valley amplitude of ∆m = 0.36 ± 0.13 mag. We find the most likely rotation period to be P = 12.376 ± 0.0033 hours. By combining the occultation with the rotational light curve results and assuming a triaxial ellipsoid, we derived axes of a × b × c = (332 ± 24) km × (216 ± 24) km × (180 ‑24/+28) km for this ellipsoid, and therefore a volume-equivalent diameter of Deq,V = 235 ± 25 km. Finally, the values for the absolute magnitude and for the area-equivalent diameter yield a geometric albedo of pV = 0.139 ± 0.027.
Disciplines :
Space science, astronomy & astrophysics
Author, co-author :
Kretlow, M.; Institute of Astrophysics of Andalusia
Ortiz, J. L.; Institute of Astrophysics of Andalusia
Desmars, J.; Institut Polytechnique des Sciences Avancées IPSA, 94200, Ivrysur-Seine, France, IMCCE, Observatoire de Paris, PSL Research University, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Univ. Lille, 75014, Paris, France
Morales, N.; Institute of Astrophysics of Andalusia
Rommel, F. L.; Federal University of Technology - Paraná (PPGFA/UTFPR-Curitiba), Av. Sete de Setembro, 3165, Curitiba, PR, Brazil, Laboratório Interinstitucional de e-Astronomia - LIneA - and INCT do e-Universo, Av. Pastor Martin Luther King Jr, 126 - Del Castilho, Nova América Offices, Torre 3000 / sala 817, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 20765-000, Brazil, Florida Space Institute, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, 32826-0650, USA
Santos-Sanz, P.; Institute of Astrophysics of Andalusia
Vara-Lubiano, M.; Institute of Astrophysics of Andalusia
Fernández-Valenzuela, E.; University of Central Florida, Institute of Astrophysics of Andalusia
Alvarez-Candal, A.; Institute of Astrophysics of Andalusia, -
Duffard, R.; Institute of Astrophysics of Andalusia
Braga-Ribas, F.; Federal University of Technology-Paraná (UTFPR/PPGFA), Curitiba, PR, Brazil, Laboratório Interinstitucional de e-Astronomia - LIneA - and INCT do e-Universo, Av. Pastor Martin Luther King Jr, 126 - Del Castilho, Nova América Offices, Torre 3000 / sala 817, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 20765-000, Brazil
Sicardy, B.; Observatoire de Paris, Institut de Mecanique Celeste et de Calcul des Ephemerides
Castro-Tirado, A.; Institute of Astrophysics of Andalusia
Fernández-García, E. J.; Institute of Astrophysics of Andalusia
Sánchez, M.; Sociedad Astronómica Granadina, Apartado de Correos 195, 18080, Granada, Spain
Sota, A.; Institute of Astrophysics of Andalusia
Assafin, M.; Universidade do Rio de Janeiro - Observatório do Valongo, Ladeira do Pedro Antonio 43, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 20.080-090, Brazil, Laboratório Interinstitucional de e-Astronomia - LIneA - and INCT do e-Universo, Av. Pastor Martin Luther King Jr, 126 - Del Castilho, Nova América Offices, Torre 3000 / sala 817, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 20765-000, Brazil
Benedetti-Rossi, G.; State University of Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho, Brazil, -, Observatoire de Paris, Laboratoire d'Etudes Spatiales et d'Instrumentation en Astrophysique
Boufleur, R.; Observatoire de Paris, Laboratoire d'Etudes Spatiales et d'Instrumentation en Astrophysique
Camargo, J. I. B.; Observatório Nacional/MCTI, Rua Gal. José Cristino 77, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 20921-400, Brazil, Laboratório Interinstitucional de e-Astronomia - LIneA - and INCT do e-Universo, Av. Pastor Martin Luther King Jr, 126 - Del Castilho, Nova América Offices, Torre 3000 / sala 817, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 20765-000, Brazil
Cikota, S.; Centro Astronómico Hispano en Andalucía, Observatorio de Calar Alto, Sierra de los Filabres, 04550, Gérgal, Almeria, Spain
Gomes-Junior, A.; Federal University of Uberlândia (UFU), Physics Institute, Av. João Naves de Ávila 2121, Uberlândia, MG, 38408-100, Brazil, Laboratório Interinstitucional de e-Astronomia - LIneA - and INCT do e-Universo, Av. Pastor Martin Luther King Jr, 126 - Del Castilho, Nova América Offices, Torre 3000 / sala 817, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 20765-000, Brazil
Gómez-Limón, J. M.; Institute of Astrophysics of Andalusia
Kilic, Y.; Institute of Astrophysics of Andalusia, Turkish National Observatory
Lecacheux, J.; Observatoire de Paris, Laboratoire d'Etudes Spatiales et d'Instrumentation en Astrophysique
Leiva, R.; Institute of Astrophysics of Andalusia
Marques-Oliveira, J.; Observatoire de Paris, Laboratoire d'Etudes Spatiales et d'Instrumentation en Astrophysique
Morales, R.; Institute of Astrophysics of Andalusia
Morgado, B.; Universidade do Rio de Janeiro - Observatório do Valongo, Ladeira do Pedro Antonio 43, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 20.080-090, Brazil
Rizos, J. L.; Institute of Astrophysics of Andalusia
Roques, F.; Observatoire de Paris, Laboratoire d'Etudes Spatiales et d'Instrumentation en Astrophysique
Souami, D.; Observatoire de Paris, Laboratoire d'Etudes Spatiales et d'Instrumentation en Astrophysique, University of California, Berkeley, Department of Astronomy, -
Vieira-Martins, R.; Observatório Nacional/MCTI, Rua Gal. José Cristino 77, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 20921-400, Brazil, Laboratório Interinstitucional de e-Astronomia - LIneA - and INCT do e-Universo, Av. Pastor Martin Luther King Jr, 126 - Del Castilho, Nova América Offices, Torre 3000 / sala 817, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 20765-000, Brazil, Universidade do Rio de Janeiro - Observatório do Valongo, Ladeira do Pedro Antonio 43, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 20.080-090, Brazil
Alarcon, M. R.; Astrophysical Institute of the Canaries
Boninsegna, R.; Rue de Mariembourg 45, 5670, Dourbes, Belgium
Çakır, O.; School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia, Astrophysics and Space Technologies Research Centre, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
Casarramona, F.; Agrupación Astronómica de Sabadell, Prat de la Riba sn, 08206, Sabadell, Spain
Castellani, J. J.; International Occultation Timing Association/European Section, Am Brombeerhag 13, 30459, Hannover, Germany
de la Cueva, I.; Agrupación Astronómica de Eivissa, C. Lucio Oculacio s/n, 07800, Ibiza, Spain
Fişek, S.; Istanbul University, Turkey, Istanbul University, Turkey
Guijarro, A.; Centro Astronómico Hispano en Andalucía, Observatorio de Calar Alto, Sierra de los Filabres, 04550, Gérgal, Almeria, Spain
Haymes, T.; International Occultation Timing Association/European Section, Am Brombeerhag 13, 30459, Hannover, Germany
Jehin, Emmanuel ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Unités de recherche interfacultaires > Space sciences, Technologies and Astrophysics Research (STAR)
Kidd, S.; International Occultation Timing Association/European Section, Am Brombeerhag 13, 30459, Hannover, Germany
Licandro, J.; Astrophysical Institute of the Canaries
Maestre, J. L.; Observatorio Astronómico de Albox, Apt. 63, 04800 Albox, Almeria, Spain
Murgas, F.; Astrophysical Institute of the Canaries
Pallé, E.; Astrophysical Institute of the Canaries
Popescu, M.; Romanian Academy of Sciences, Astronomical Institute
Pratt, A.; International Occultation Timing Association/European Section, Am Brombeerhag 13, 30459, Hannover, Germany
Serra-Ricart, M.; Astrophysical Institute of the Canaries
Talbot, J. C.; International Occultation Timing Association/European Section, Am Brombeerhag 13, 30459, Hannover, Germany
