Formation of Kuiper Belt Binaries and Planetary Satellites

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AST 0307926NesvornyDr. David Nesvorny, Southwest Research Institute, will lead a study of the binary objects recently discovered in the Kuiper Belt and of the moons of the jovian planets. These two components of the present Solar System inventory probably date back to the earliest epochs. Dr. Nesvorny will study various scenarios for their formation, not solely to explain why they are there, but also to provide crucial constraints on the current models of planet formation. His research team will model three recently suggested scenarios of the formation of binary Kuiper Belt Objects to probe physical conditions that existed in the trans-Neptunian disk during early epochs. To derive constraints on jovian planet and satellite formation, the group will study the effects of collisions and gravitational perturbations on the moons in several planetary formation scenarios. Finally, they will investigate the possibility that some irregular moons formed when small objects in the inner proto-satellite disk were scattered outward by the major satellites and decoupled from them by the effect of passing planetesimals or by solar tides. To broaden the impact of this research, Dr. Nesvorny will partner with the Denver Museum of Nature and Science to bring aspects of this project's results to the Museum's visitors.***