JWST Near-infrared Spectroscopy of High-albedo Jupiter Trojans: A New Surface Type in the Trojan Belt
We present 0.8–5 μ m JWST spectra of four ~20 km diameter Jupiter Trojans known to have albedos elevated above the values typical in the remaining Trojan population. The spectra of these four high-albedo Jupiter Trojans are all similar, with red slopes in the optical–IR transition region, a break t...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
IOP Publishing
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | The Planetary Science Journal |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/ad9a60 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832590586661568512 |
|---|---|
| author | Michael E. Brown Ian Wong Matthew Belyakov |
| author_facet | Michael E. Brown Ian Wong Matthew Belyakov |
| author_sort | Michael E. Brown |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We present 0.8–5 μ m JWST spectra of four ~20 km diameter Jupiter Trojans known to have albedos elevated above the values typical in the remaining Trojan population. The spectra of these four high-albedo Jupiter Trojans are all similar, with red slopes in the optical–IR transition region, a break to lower slopes at 1.3 μ m, and a broad absorptions from 2.8 to 4 μ m. The 0.8–2.5 μ m spectra of these objects match the spectra of neither the well-known “red” and “less-red” Jupiter Trojans nor of any known asteroid taxonomic class. The reflectivity of these objects does not rise redward of 4 μ m, a property that is seen in the previous JWST observations of Jupiter Trojans only in Polymele. Indeed, the high-albedo Jupiter Trojan spectra are a good match to that of Polymele, and Polymele is both the smallest Jupiter Trojan in the previous JWST sample and has the highest albedo of the objects in that sample. We conclude that Polymele and the other high-albedo Jupiter Trojans represent a third class of Jupiter Trojans not represented in the more heavily studied larger objects and are perhaps the products of recent disruptions. The Lucy flyby of Polymele in 2027 September will give a direct view of one of this new class of Jupiter Trojans. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2221be3255564e6397c76dc559050a60 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2632-3338 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | IOP Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | The Planetary Science Journal |
| spelling | doaj-art-2221be3255564e6397c76dc559050a602025-01-23T09:41:17ZengIOP PublishingThe Planetary Science Journal2632-33382025-01-01612210.3847/PSJ/ad9a60JWST Near-infrared Spectroscopy of High-albedo Jupiter Trojans: A New Surface Type in the Trojan BeltMichael E. Brown0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8255-0545Ian Wong1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9665-8429Matthew Belyakov2https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4778-6170Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology , Pasadena, CA 91125, USA ; mbrown@caltech.eduSpace Telescope Science Institute , 3700 San Martin Drive, Baltimore, MD 21218, USADivision of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology , Pasadena, CA 91125, USA ; mbrown@caltech.eduWe present 0.8–5 μ m JWST spectra of four ~20 km diameter Jupiter Trojans known to have albedos elevated above the values typical in the remaining Trojan population. The spectra of these four high-albedo Jupiter Trojans are all similar, with red slopes in the optical–IR transition region, a break to lower slopes at 1.3 μ m, and a broad absorptions from 2.8 to 4 μ m. The 0.8–2.5 μ m spectra of these objects match the spectra of neither the well-known “red” and “less-red” Jupiter Trojans nor of any known asteroid taxonomic class. The reflectivity of these objects does not rise redward of 4 μ m, a property that is seen in the previous JWST observations of Jupiter Trojans only in Polymele. Indeed, the high-albedo Jupiter Trojan spectra are a good match to that of Polymele, and Polymele is both the smallest Jupiter Trojan in the previous JWST sample and has the highest albedo of the objects in that sample. We conclude that Polymele and the other high-albedo Jupiter Trojans represent a third class of Jupiter Trojans not represented in the more heavily studied larger objects and are perhaps the products of recent disruptions. The Lucy flyby of Polymele in 2027 September will give a direct view of one of this new class of Jupiter Trojans.https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/ad9a60Jupiter trojansInfrared spectroscopyJames Webb Space Telescope |
| spellingShingle | Michael E. Brown Ian Wong Matthew Belyakov JWST Near-infrared Spectroscopy of High-albedo Jupiter Trojans: A New Surface Type in the Trojan Belt The Planetary Science Journal Jupiter trojans Infrared spectroscopy James Webb Space Telescope |
| title | JWST Near-infrared Spectroscopy of High-albedo Jupiter Trojans: A New Surface Type in the Trojan Belt |
| title_full | JWST Near-infrared Spectroscopy of High-albedo Jupiter Trojans: A New Surface Type in the Trojan Belt |
| title_fullStr | JWST Near-infrared Spectroscopy of High-albedo Jupiter Trojans: A New Surface Type in the Trojan Belt |
| title_full_unstemmed | JWST Near-infrared Spectroscopy of High-albedo Jupiter Trojans: A New Surface Type in the Trojan Belt |
| title_short | JWST Near-infrared Spectroscopy of High-albedo Jupiter Trojans: A New Surface Type in the Trojan Belt |
| title_sort | jwst near infrared spectroscopy of high albedo jupiter trojans a new surface type in the trojan belt |
| topic | Jupiter trojans Infrared spectroscopy James Webb Space Telescope |
| url | https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/ad9a60 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT michaelebrown jwstnearinfraredspectroscopyofhighalbedojupitertrojansanewsurfacetypeinthetrojanbelt AT ianwong jwstnearinfraredspectroscopyofhighalbedojupitertrojansanewsurfacetypeinthetrojanbelt AT matthewbelyakov jwstnearinfraredspectroscopyofhighalbedojupitertrojansanewsurfacetypeinthetrojanbelt |