Understanding the Surface Compositions of Kuiper Belt Objects

Emily Schaller
IfA (Hubble Fellow)


Unlike main-belt asteroids, Kuiper belt objects (KBOs) are not easily
categorized into compositional classes by their spectroscopic
signatures.  While some KBOs are large enough to retain volatile ices
on their surfaces and can possess thin atmospheres (such as Pluto),
the vast majority have surfaces dominated by involatile water ice
and/or dark, spectrally featureless material.  Recently, however, new
observations have provided insight into the formation and evolution of
many of these objects.  In this talk, I will discuss recent
spectroscopic observations of KBOs and what they have revealed about
how giant collisions, UV photolysis, and atmospheric escape have
shaped the surfaces of these bodies.