Properties of the irregular satellite system around Uranus inferred from K2, Herschel and Spitzer observations

A. Farkas-Takács, Cs. Kiss, A. Pál, L. Molnár, Gy. M. Szabó, O. Hanyecz, K. Sárneczky, R. Szabó, G. Marton, M. Mommert, R. Szakáts, T. Müller, L. L. Kiss

Published 2017-06-21Version 1

In this paper we present visible range light curves of the irregular Uranian satellites Sycorax, Caliban, Prospero, Ferdinand and Setebos taken with Kepler Space Telescope in the course of the K2 mission. Thermal emission measurements obtained with the Herschel/PACS and Spitzer/MIPS instruments of Sycorax and Caliban were also analysed and used to determine size, albedo and surface characteristics of these bodies. We compare these properties with the rotational and surface characteristics of irregular satellites in other giant planet systems and also with those of main belt and Trojan asteroids and trans-Neptunian objects. Our results indicate that the Uranian irregular satellite system likely went through a more intense collisional evolution than the irregular satellites of Jupiter and Saturn. Surface characteristics of Uranian irregular satellites seems to resemble the Centaurs and trans-Neptunian objects more than irregular satellites around other giant planets, suggesting the existence of a compositional discontinuity in the young Solar system inside the orbit of Uranus.