Near-Infrared Spectrum of Low-Inclination Classical Kuiper Belt Object (79360) 1997 CS29

Abstract

The Kuiper Belt is the only part of the Kuiper Belt where objects show color statistics distinct from the rest of the trans-Neptunian population. Cold classical orbits are also likely to have been among the least dynamically perturbed since the time of accretion. As such, cold classical objects are especially interesting targets for compositional investigation by means of near-infrared spectroscopy. In this paper we report the first published infrared spectrum of a likely member of this unique class of objects. A 1.4–2.5 μm spectrum of the cold classical candidate object (79360) 1997 CS29 obtained at Keck I is spectrally featureless.