August 4th, 2017
After flying past Pluto/Charon, New Horizons headed onward to another Kuiper Belt Object (KBO) called 2014 MU69 but along the way it spied an additional object called 1994 JR1. New Horizons collected data previously unknown about 1994 JR1.
1994 JR1 imaged by New Horizons
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On May 16, 2016 a NASA paper was released describing 1994 JR1. (link to the paper) which was imaged by the LORRI camera on Nov 2nd, and April 7th, 2015 at a distance of 1.85 AU and .71 AU respectively. JR1 was 2.7 AU from Pluto at the time of this image. JR1 in this gif appears to have an irregular shape.
1994 JR1 is RED (tholin covered) its redder than Pluto and redder than 2/3 of the Plutinos caught in a 3:2 resonance with Neptune. Object 1994 JR1;
2014 MU69, 1994 JR1 and Pluto are all red or covered in complex hydrocarbons called tholins produced from gasses like CH4, CO, CO2 and H2O as they interact with cosmic energetic particles. |
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The New Horizons team has been busy collecting as much information as they can about 2014 MU69 via telescopes. When an object like Pluto or MU69 crosses in front of a distant star it cast a shadow on Earth.
This event is known as an occultation and it allows scientists to learn additional information about the object. Info like depth, distance and period from which we can better understand its shape. This is also how we knew Pluto had an atmosphere before we went there. From occultations we can also collect information about what types of gasses are in an objects atmosphere. |
Don't blink or you'll miss the MU69 wink
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On July 17th, 2017, MU69 passed in front of an unnamed star and cast a shadow on Earth in Patagonia Argentina. NASA scientists were there and collected more data about MU69. The collected data about MU69 indicates the shape is either like Kerberos and comet 67P (bilobed duck), Styx (potato) or Pluto/Charon (two orbiting bodies or a binary pair orbiting a barycentric point). |
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NASA says
Based on these new occultation observations, team members say MU69 may not be a lone spherical object, but suspect it could be an “extreme prolate spheroid” – think of a skinny football – or even a binary pair. The odd shape has scientists thinking two bodies may be orbiting very close together or even touching – what’s known as a close or contact binary – or perhaps they’re observing a single body with a large chunk taken out of it. The size of MU69 or its components also can be determined from these data. It appears to be no more than 20 miles (30 kilometers) long, or, if a binary, each about 9-12 miles (15-20 kilometers) in diameter.
April 15th 2018
MU69 has been recently officially named Ultima Thule.
Based on these new occultation observations, team members say MU69 may not be a lone spherical object, but suspect it could be an “extreme prolate spheroid” – think of a skinny football – or even a binary pair. The odd shape has scientists thinking two bodies may be orbiting very close together or even touching – what’s known as a close or contact binary – or perhaps they’re observing a single body with a large chunk taken out of it. The size of MU69 or its components also can be determined from these data. It appears to be no more than 20 miles (30 kilometers) long, or, if a binary, each about 9-12 miles (15-20 kilometers) in diameter.
April 15th 2018
MU69 has been recently officially named Ultima Thule.
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Kerberos
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At 20 miles long, MU69 is about ten miles smaller than Nix or Hydra but has a shape similar to Kerberos.
Nix has been measured to be 54 by 41 by 36 kilometers (33.6 mi × 25.5 mi × 22.4 mi) in diameter |
Nix
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Mu69's albedo or ability to reflect light is about .11 not very reflective our moon is .136 and Nix is .56 (very bright). For more detailed information on an object's albedo visit page 67 or 69. Below is the relative brightness of Enceladus, Earth, Moon and comet 67P.
Albedo or reflectance of Enceladus=1.375, Earth=.367, Moon=.136, comet 67P=.06. Making MU69 a little darker than the Moon at .11
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Here's the Pluto system with its moon's orbits. Nix looks similar to some of the floating icebergs on Sputnik Planitia while Hydra looks similar to an embedded ice rock on the southern hemisphere of Charon. Hydra, depending on the viewing angle of rotation looks like it could be considered to be a potato shape or a bilobed shape. Since Nix and Hydra have their own unique shapes, I'll compare MU69 to Styx and Kerberos. |
Artist sketch of possible MU69 shape based on occultation data
This binary concept is based on telescope observations made at Patagonia, Argentina on July 17, 2017 when MU69 passed in front of a star. Credit Alex Parker
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If MU69 looks like the above rendition then it has some relatives. Comet 67P is a short period comet that circles the Sun every 6.45 years but like 2014 MU69 originated far out in the Kuiper belt. |
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Comet 67P has two distinct lobes which are separate objects that conjoined and has been compared to a rubber duck. Each lobe's strata align at different angles so they were formed separately then gently came together to form one strange looking object.
2014 MU69 may be similar to 67P.
Pluto's moon Kerberos looks similar to this rendition of 67P and its about twice 67P's size.
MU69 could look like a potato.
Scientists speculate that the Kuiper Belt object could be a single body with a large chunk taken out of it, or two bodies (first image) that are close together or even touching. Image credit Alex Parker
Pluto's moon Styx is about half the size of MU69 but they may have similar shapes although by the looks of it Styx appears to be a bilobed object. You can see a clear indent or dark-ish dimpled ring zone around Styx.
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Perhaps MU69 is some sort of mutant between potato and duck |
Image credit Igor Smolic
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2014 MU69 could also be a binary pair aka Transneptunian Binary (TNB)
TNB's orbit (on average) beyond Neptune's orbital distance of 30AU from the Sun.
Image credit Carlos Hernandez
While Pluto and Charon are massively larger than MU69, they are nonetheless a binary pair.
On average, Pluto/Charon orbit beyond Neptune and are in fact a TNB.
Binary pairs make up about 30% of the known objects in the Kuiper belt.
It is relatively common for objects to travel in groups and/or merge into larger objects.
Gravity sucks so when objects get close enough they draw nearer to each other.
The general scientific consensus is that it's uncommon for objects to become mutually captured in space because of velocity, mass and gravity but this concept seems to be repeatedly challenged by actual observations.
Image credit NASA
New Horizons is expected to arrive at MU69 January 1st 2019.
Whether shaped like a potato, dumb bell, rubber duck or binary pair MU69 promises to deliver new and exciting data.
