[IAUC] CBET 1046: 20070831 : (160256) 2002 PD_149

[IAUC mailing list]

                                                  Electronic Telegram No. 1046
Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams
INTERNATIONAL ASTRONOMICAL UNION
M.S. 18, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge, MA 02138, U.S.A.
IAUSUBS en CFA.HARVARD.EDU or FAX 617-495-7231 (subscriptions)
CBAT en CFA.HARVARD.EDU (science)
URL http://www.cfa.harvard.edu/iau/cbat.html


(160256) 2002 PD_149
     K. S. Noll and S. D. Kern, Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI);
W. M. Grundy, Lowell Observatory; D. C. Stephens, Brigham Young University;
and H. F. Levison, Southwest Research Institute, report the detection of a
binary companion to the transneptunian object (160256) 2002 PD_149 (MPEC
2002-S49; MPO 121459).  The observations were made during May 22.195-22.212
UT with the Planetary Camera of the Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 on the
Hubble Space Telescope, using the F606W filter (wide V) with one 260-s
exposure at each of three dithered positions on the detector.  The two
components were separated by an angular distance of 0".74 +/- 0".01 and
differ in brightness by 0.4 mag.  The fainter component lies at a position
angle of 62.0 +/- 0.8 deg from the primary.  The projected separation of
the objects in the sky plane is 24400 +/- 300 km.


NOTE: These 'Central Bureau Electronic Telegrams' are sometimes
      superseded by text appearing later in the printed IAU Circulars.

                         (C) Copyright 2007 CBAT
2007 August 31                   (CBET 1046)              Daniel W. E. Green