Kuiper belt binary systems are rare in the 10^19 to 10^20 kg mass range, suggesting a mix of formation effects and observational bias.
The Mutual Orbit, Mass, and Density of the Large Transneptunian Binary System Varda and Ilmar\"e
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abstract
From observations by the Hubble Space Telescope, Keck II Telescope, and Gemini North Telescope, we have determined the mutual orbit of the large transneptunian object (174567) Varda and its satellite Ilmar\"e. These two objects orbit one another in a highly inclined, circular or near-circular orbit with a period of 5.75 days and a semimajor axis of 4810 km. This orbit reveals the system mass to be (2.664 +/- 0.064) x 10^20 kg, slightly greater than the mass of the second most massive main-belt asteroid (4) Vesta. The dynamical mass can in turn be combined with estimates of the surface area of the system from Herschel Space Telescope thermal observations to estimate a bulk density of 1.24 +0.50 -0.35 g cm^-3. Varda and Ilmar\"e both have colors similar to the combined colors of the system, B-V = 0.886 +/- 0.025 and V-I = 1.156 +/- 0.029.
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Where are the missing Kuiper Belt binaries?
Kuiper belt binary systems are rare in the 10^19 to 10^20 kg mass range, suggesting a mix of formation effects and observational bias.