The tumbling rotational state of 1I/‘Oumuamua

Simple item page
dc.citation.issue5
dc.citation.rankM21a
dc.citation.spage383
dc.citation.volume2
dc.contributor.authorFraser, Wesley C.
dc.contributor.authorPravec, Petr
dc.contributor.authorFitzsimmons, Alan
dc.contributor.authorLacerda, Pedro
dc.contributor.authorBannister, Michele T.
dc.contributor.authorSnodgrass, Colin
dc.contributor.authorSmolić, Igor
dc.date.accessioned2024-07-05T10:21:06Z
dc.date.available2024-07-05T10:21:06Z
dc.date.issued2018-02-09
dc.description.abstractThe discovery 1 of 1I/2017 U1 (1I/'Oumuamua) has provided the first glimpse of a planetesimal born in another planetary system. This interloper exhibits a variable colour within a range that is broadly consistent with local small bodies, such as the P- and D-type asteroids, Jupiter Trojans and dynamically excited Kuiper belt objects 2-7 . 1I/'Oumuamua appears unusually elongated in shape, with an axial ratio exceeding 5:1 (refs 1,4,5,8 ). Rotation period estimates are inconsistent and varied, with reported values between 6.9 and 8.3 h (refs 4-6,9 ). Here, we analyse all the available optical photometry data reported to date. No single rotation period can explain the exhibited brightness variations. Rather, 1I/'Oumuamua appears to be in an excited rotational state undergoing non-principal axis rotation, or tumbling. A satisfactory solution has apparent lightcurve frequencies of 0.135 and 0.126 h-1 and implies a longest-to-shortest axis ratio of ≳5:1, although the available data are insufficient to uniquely constrain the true frequencies and shape. Assuming a body that responds to non-principal axis rotation in a similar manner to Solar System asteroids and comets, the timescale to damp 1I/'Oumuamua's tumbling is at least one billion years. 1I/'Oumuamua was probably set tumbling within its parent planetary system and will remain tumbling well after it has left ours.
dc.identifier.doi10.1038/s41550-018-0398-z
dc.identifier.issn2397-3366
dc.identifier.scopus2-s2.0-85046377809
dc.identifier.urihttps://pub.ipb.ac.rs/handle/123456789/178
dc.identifier.wos000434351700017
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherNature Publishing Group
dc.relation.ispartofNature Astronomy
dc.relation.ispartofabbrNat. Astron.
dc.rightsrestrictedAccess
dc.titleThe tumbling rotational state of 1I/‘Oumuamua
dc.typeArticle
dc.type.versionpublishedVersion
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Smolic2018.pdf
Size:
1.54 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Download
Collections
Publications