Initial results from the New Horizons exploration of 2014 MU69, a small Kuiper Belt object

S. A. Stern; H. A. Weaver; J. R. Spencer; C. B. Olkin; G. R. Gladstone; W. M. Grundy; J. M. Moore; D. P. Cruikshank; H. A. Elliott; W. B. McKinnon; J. Wm Parker; A. J. Verbiscer; L. A. Young; D. A. Aguilar; J. M. Albers; T. Andert; J. P. Andrews; F. Bagenal; M. E. Banks; B. A. Bauer; J. A. Bauman; K. E. Bechtold; C. B. Beddingfield; N. Behrooz; K. B. Beisser; S. D. Benecchi; E. Bernardoni; R. A. Beyer; S. Bhaskaran; C. J. Bierson; R. P. Binzel; E. M. Birath; M. K. Bird; D. R. Boone; A. F. Bowman; V. J. Bray; D. T. Britt; L. E. Brown; M. R. Buckley; M. W. Buie; B. J. Buratti; L. M. Burke; S. S. Bushman; B. Carcich; A. L. Chaikin; C. L. Chavez; A. F. Cheng; E. J. Colwell; S. J. Conard; M. P. Conner; C. A. Conrad; J. C. Cook; S. B. Cooper; O. S. Custodio; C. M. Dalle Ore; C. C. Deboy; P. Dharmavaram; R. D. Dhingra; G. F. Dunn; A. M. Earle; A. F. Egan; J. Eisig; M. R. El-Maarry; C. Engelbrecht; B. L. Enke; C. J. Ercol; E. D. Fattig; C. L. Ferrell; T. J. Finley; J. Firer; J. Fischetti; W. M. Folkner; M. N. Fosbury; G. H. Fountain; J. M. Freeze; L. Gabasova; L. S. Glaze; J. L. Green; G. A. Griffith; Y. Guo; M. Hahn; D. W. Hals; D. P. Hamilton; S. A. Hamilton; J. J. Hanley; A. Harch; K. A. Harmon; H. M. Hart; J. Hayes; C. B. Hersman; M. E. Hill; T. A. Hill; J. D. Hofgartner; M. E. Holdridge; M. Horányi; A. Hosadurga; A. D. Howard; C. J.A. Howett; S. E. Jaskulek; D. E. Jennings; J. R. Jensen; M. R. Jones; H. K. Kang; D. J. Katz; D. E. Kaufmann; J. J. Kavelaars; J. T. Keane; G. P. Keleher; M. Kinczyk; M. C. Kochte; P. Kollmann; S. M. Krimigis; G. L. Kruizinga; D. Y. Kusnierkiewicz; M. S. Lahr; T. R. Lauer; G. B. Lawrence; J. E. Lee; E. J. Lessac-Chenen; I. R. Linscott; C. M. Lisse; A. W. Lunsford; D. M. Mages; V. A. Mallder; N. P. Martin; B. H. May; D. J. McComas; R. L. McNutt; D. S. Mehoke; T. S. Mehoke; D. S. Nelson; H. D. Nguyen; J. I. Núñez; A. C. Ocampo; W. M. Owen; G. K. Oxton; A. H. Parker; M. Pätzold; J. Y. Pelgrift; F. J. Pelletier; J. P. Pineau; M. R. Piquette; S. B. Porter; S. Protopapa; E. Quirico; J. A. Redfern; A. L. Regiec; H. J. Reitsema; D. C. Reuter; D. C. Richardson; J. E. Riedel; M. A. Ritterbush; S. J. Robbins; D. J. Rodgers; G. D. Rogers; D. M. Rose; P. E. Rosendall; K. D. Runyon; M. G. Ryschkewitsch; M. M. Saina; M. J. Salinas; P. M. Schenk; J. R. Scherrer; W. R. Schlei; B. Schmitt; D. J. Schultz; D. C. Schurr; F. Scipioni; R. L. Sepan; R. G. Shelton; M. R. Showalter; M. Simon; K. N. Singer; E. W. Stahlheber; D. R. Stanbridge; J. A. Stansberry; A. J. Steffl; D. F. Strobel; M. M. Stothoff; T. Stryk; J. R. Stuart; M. E. Summers; M. B. Tapley; A. Taylor; H. W. Taylor; R. M. Tedford; H. B. Throop; L. S. Turner; O. M. Umurhan; J. Van Eck; D. Velez; M. H. Versteeg; M. A. Vincent; R. W. Webbert; S. E. Weidner; G. E. Weigle; J. R. Wendel; O. L. White; K. E. Whittenburg; B. G. Williams; K. E. Williams; S. P. Williams; H. L. Winters; A. M. Zangari; T. H. Zurbuchen

doi:10.1126/science.aaw9771

Initial results from the New Horizons exploration of 2014 MU₆₉, a small Kuiper Belt object

S. A. Stern
, H. A. Weaver
, J. R. Spencer
, C. B. Olkin
, G. R. Gladstone
, W. M. Grundy
, J. M. Moore
, D. P. Cruikshank
, H. A. Elliott
, W. B. McKinnon
, J. Wm Parker
, A. J. Verbiscer
, L. A. Young
, D. A. Aguilar
, J. M. Albers
, T. Andert
, J. P. Andrews
, F. Bagenal
, M. E. Banks
, B. A. Bauer

J. A. Bauman, K. E. Bechtold, C. B. Beddingfield, N. Behrooz, K. B. Beisser, S. D. Benecchi, E. Bernardoni, R. A. Beyer, S. Bhaskaran, C. J. Bierson, R. P. Binzel, E. M. Birath, M. K. Bird, D. R. Boone, A. F. Bowman, V. J. Bray, D. T. Britt, L. E. Brown, M. R. Buckley, M. W. Buie, B. J. Buratti, L. M. Burke, S. S. Bushman, B. Carcich, A. L. Chaikin, C. L. Chavez, A. F. Cheng, E. J. Colwell, S. J. Conard, M. P. Conner, C. A. Conrad, J. C. Cook, S. B. Cooper, O. S. Custodio, C. M. Dalle Ore, C. C. Deboy, P. Dharmavaram, R. D. Dhingra, G. F. Dunn, A. M. Earle, A. F. Egan, J. Eisig, M. R. El-Maarry, C. Engelbrecht, B. L. Enke, C. J. Ercol, E. D. Fattig, C. L. Ferrell, T. J. Finley, J. Firer, J. Fischetti, W. M. Folkner, M. N. Fosbury, G. H. Fountain, J. M. Freeze, L. Gabasova, L. S. Glaze, J. L. Green, G. A. Griffith, Y. Guo, M. Hahn, D. W. Hals, D. P. Hamilton, S. A. Hamilton, J. J. Hanley, A. Harch, K. A. Harmon, H. M. Hart, J. Hayes, C. B. Hersman, M. E. Hill, T. A. Hill, J. D. Hofgartner, M. E. Holdridge, M. Horányi, A. Hosadurga, A. D. Howard, C. J.A. Howett, S. E. Jaskulek, D. E. Jennings, J. R. Jensen, M. R. Jones, H. K. Kang, D. J. Katz, D. E. Kaufmann, J. J. Kavelaars, J. T. Keane, G. P. Keleher, M. Kinczyk, M. C. Kochte, P. Kollmann, S. M. Krimigis, G. L. Kruizinga, D. Y. Kusnierkiewicz, M. S. Lahr, T. R. Lauer, G. B. Lawrence, J. E. Lee, E. J. Lessac-Chenen, I. R. Linscott, C. M. Lisse, A. W. Lunsford, D. M. Mages, V. A. Mallder, N. P. Martin, B. H. May, D. J. McComas, R. L. McNutt, D. S. Mehoke, T. S. Mehoke, D. S. Nelson, H. D. Nguyen, J. I. Núñez, A. C. Ocampo, W. M. Owen, G. K. Oxton, A. H. Parker, M. Pätzold, J. Y. Pelgrift, F. J. Pelletier, J. P. Pineau, M. R. Piquette, S. B. Porter, S. Protopapa, E. Quirico, J. A. Redfern, A. L. Regiec, H. J. Reitsema, D. C. Reuter, D. C. Richardson, J. E. Riedel, M. A. Ritterbush, S. J. Robbins, D. J. Rodgers, G. D. Rogers, D. M. Rose, P. E. Rosendall, K. D. Runyon, M. G. Ryschkewitsch, M. M. Saina, M. J. Salinas, P. M. Schenk, J. R. Scherrer, W. R. Schlei, B. Schmitt, D. J. Schultz, D. C. Schurr, F. Scipioni, R. L. Sepan, R. G. Shelton, M. R. Showalter, M. Simon, K. N. Singer, E. W. Stahlheber, D. R. Stanbridge, J. A. Stansberry, A. J. Steffl, D. F. Strobel, M. M. Stothoff, T. Stryk, J. R. Stuart, M. E. Summers, M. B. Tapley, A. Taylor, H. W. Taylor, R. M. Tedford, H. B. Throop, L. S. Turner, O. M. Umurhan, J. Van Eck, D. Velez, M. H. Versteeg, M. A. Vincent, R. W. Webbert, S. E. Weidner, G. E. Weigle, J. R. Wendel, O. L. White, K. E. Whittenburg, B. G. Williams, K. E. Williams, S. P. Williams, H. L. Winters, A. M. Zangari, T. H. Zurbuchen

Earth Science

Southwest Research Institute
Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
Southwest Research Institute
Lowell Observatory
NASA Ames Research Center
University of Texas at San Antonio
Washington University in St. Louis, McDonnell Center for the Space Sciences
University of Virginia
Independent Consultant
Universität der Bundeswehr München
University of Colorado Boulder
Planetary Environments Laboratory
KinetX Aerospace
SETI Institute
Planetary Science Institute
JPL
University of California, Santa Cruz
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
University of Bonn
University of Cologne
University of Arizona
University of Central Florida
Cornell University
Independent Science Writer
Pinhead Institute
University of Idaho
UJF-Grenoble 1/CNRS-INSU
NASA Headquarters
University of Maryland, College Park
NRC
Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences
North Carolina State University
National Optical Astronomy Observatory
NASA Marshall Space Flight Center
Independent Consultant
Independent Consultant
Independent Collaborator
Princeton University
Stellar Solutions
Independent Consultant
Lunar and Planetary Institute
Space Telescope Science Institute
Johns Hopkins University
Roane State Community College
George Mason University
Independent Consultant

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

159 Scopus citations

Abstract

The Kuiper Belt is a distant region of the outer Solar System. On 1 January 2019, the New Horizons spacecraft flew close to (486958) 2014 MU₆₉, a cold classical Kuiper Belt object approximately 30 kilometers in diameter. Such objects have never been substantially heated by the Sun and are therefore well preserved since their formation. We describe initial results from these encounter observations. MU₆₉ is a bilobed contact binary with a flattened shape, discrete geological units, and noticeable albedo heterogeneity. However, there is little surface color or compositional heterogeneity. No evidence for satellites, rings or other dust structures, a gas coma, or solar wind interactions was detected. MU₆9's origin appears consistent with pebble cloud collapse followed by a low-velocity merger of its two lobes.

Original language	British English
Article number	eaaw9771
Journal	Science
Volume	364
Issue number	6441
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aaw9771
State	Published - 2019

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Stern, S. A., Weaver, H. A., Spencer, J. R., Olkin, C. B., Gladstone, G. R., Grundy, W. M., Moore, J. M., Cruikshank, D. P., Elliott, H. A., McKinnon, W. B., Parker, J. W., Verbiscer, A. J., Young, L. A., Aguilar, D. A., Albers, J. M., Andert, T., Andrews, J. P., Bagenal, F., Banks, M. E., ... Zurbuchen, T. H. (2019). Initial results from the New Horizons exploration of 2014 MU₆₉, a small Kuiper Belt object. Science, 364(6441), Article eaaw9771. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aaw9771

@article{d4c0fa9f33a44b5c812bcb296c766e02,

title = "Initial results from the New Horizons exploration of 2014 MU69, a small Kuiper Belt object",

abstract = "The Kuiper Belt is a distant region of the outer Solar System. On 1 January 2019, the New Horizons spacecraft flew close to (486958) 2014 MU69, a cold classical Kuiper Belt object approximately 30 kilometers in diameter. Such objects have never been substantially heated by the Sun and are therefore well preserved since their formation. We describe initial results from these encounter observations. MU69 is a bilobed contact binary with a flattened shape, discrete geological units, and noticeable albedo heterogeneity. However, there is little surface color or compositional heterogeneity. No evidence for satellites, rings or other dust structures, a gas coma, or solar wind interactions was detected. MU69's origin appears consistent with pebble cloud collapse followed by a low-velocity merger of its two lobes.",

author = "Stern, \{S. A.\} and Weaver, \{H. A.\} and Spencer, \{J. R.\} and Olkin, \{C. B.\} and Gladstone, \{G. R.\} and Grundy, \{W. M.\} and Moore, \{J. M.\} and Cruikshank, \{D. P.\} and Elliott, \{H. A.\} and McKinnon, \{W. B.\} and Parker, \{J. Wm\} and Verbiscer, \{A. J.\} and Young, \{L. A.\} and Aguilar, \{D. A.\} and Albers, \{J. M.\} and T. Andert and Andrews, \{J. P.\} and F. Bagenal and Banks, \{M. E.\} and Bauer, \{B. A.\} and Bauman, \{J. A.\} and Bechtold, \{K. E.\} and Beddingfield, \{C. B.\} and N. Behrooz and Beisser, \{K. B.\} and Benecchi, \{S. D.\} and E. Bernardoni and Beyer, \{R. A.\} and S. Bhaskaran and Bierson, \{C. J.\} and Binzel, \{R. P.\} and Birath, \{E. M.\} and Bird, \{M. K.\} and Boone, \{D. R.\} and Bowman, \{A. F.\} and Bray, \{V. J.\} and Britt, \{D. T.\} and Brown, \{L. E.\} and Buckley, \{M. R.\} and Buie, \{M. W.\} and Buratti, \{B. J.\} and Burke, \{L. M.\} and Bushman, \{S. S.\} and B. Carcich and Chaikin, \{A. L.\} and Chavez, \{C. L.\} and Cheng, \{A. F.\} and Colwell, \{E. J.\} and Conard, \{S. J.\} and Conner, \{M. P.\} and Conrad, \{C. A.\} and Cook, \{J. C.\} and Cooper, \{S. B.\} and Custodio, \{O. S.\} and \{Dalle Ore\}, \{C. M.\} and Deboy, \{C. C.\} and P. Dharmavaram and Dhingra, \{R. D.\} and Dunn, \{G. F.\} and Earle, \{A. M.\} and Egan, \{A. F.\} and J. Eisig and El-Maarry, \{M. R.\} and C. Engelbrecht and Enke, \{B. L.\} and Ercol, \{C. J.\} and Fattig, \{E. D.\} and Ferrell, \{C. L.\} and Finley, \{T. J.\} and J. Firer and J. Fischetti and Folkner, \{W. M.\} and Fosbury, \{M. N.\} and Fountain, \{G. H.\} and Freeze, \{J. M.\} and L. Gabasova and Glaze, \{L. S.\} and Green, \{J. L.\} and Griffith, \{G. A.\} and Y. Guo and M. Hahn and Hals, \{D. W.\} and Hamilton, \{D. P.\} and Hamilton, \{S. A.\} and Hanley, \{J. J.\} and A. Harch and Harmon, \{K. A.\} and Hart, \{H. M.\} and J. Hayes and Hersman, \{C. B.\} and Hill, \{M. E.\} and Hill, \{T. A.\} and Hofgartner, \{J. D.\} and Holdridge, \{M. E.\} and M. Hor{\'a}nyi and A. Hosadurga and Howard, \{A. D.\} and Howett, \{C. J.A.\} and Jaskulek, \{S. E.\} and Jennings, \{D. E.\} and Jensen, \{J. R.\} and Jones, \{M. R.\} and Kang, \{H. K.\} and Katz, \{D. J.\} and Kaufmann, \{D. E.\} and Kavelaars, \{J. J.\} and Keane, \{J. T.\} and Keleher, \{G. P.\} and M. Kinczyk and Kochte, \{M. C.\} and P. Kollmann and Krimigis, \{S. M.\} and Kruizinga, \{G. L.\} and Kusnierkiewicz, \{D. Y.\} and Lahr, \{M. S.\} and Lauer, \{T. R.\} and Lawrence, \{G. B.\} and Lee, \{J. E.\} and Lessac-Chenen, \{E. J.\} and Linscott, \{I. R.\} and Lisse, \{C. M.\} and Lunsford, \{A. W.\} and Mages, \{D. M.\} and Mallder, \{V. A.\} and Martin, \{N. P.\} and May, \{B. H.\} and McComas, \{D. J.\} and McNutt, \{R. L.\} and Mehoke, \{D. S.\} and Mehoke, \{T. S.\} and Nelson, \{D. S.\} and Nguyen, \{H. D.\} and N{\'u}{\~n}ez, \{J. I.\} and Ocampo, \{A. C.\} and Owen, \{W. M.\} and Oxton, \{G. K.\} and Parker, \{A. H.\} and M. P{\"a}tzold and Pelgrift, \{J. Y.\} and Pelletier, \{F. J.\} and Pineau, \{J. P.\} and Piquette, \{M. R.\} and Porter, \{S. B.\} and S. Protopapa and E. Quirico and Redfern, \{J. A.\} and Regiec, \{A. L.\} and Reitsema, \{H. J.\} and Reuter, \{D. C.\} and Richardson, \{D. C.\} and Riedel, \{J. E.\} and Ritterbush, \{M. A.\} and Robbins, \{S. J.\} and Rodgers, \{D. J.\} and Rogers, \{G. D.\} and Rose, \{D. M.\} and Rosendall, \{P. E.\} and Runyon, \{K. D.\} and Ryschkewitsch, \{M. G.\} and Saina, \{M. M.\} and Salinas, \{M. J.\} and Schenk, \{P. M.\} and Scherrer, \{J. R.\} and Schlei, \{W. R.\} and B. Schmitt and Schultz, \{D. J.\} and Schurr, \{D. C.\} and F. Scipioni and Sepan, \{R. L.\} and Shelton, \{R. G.\} and Showalter, \{M. R.\} and M. Simon and Singer, \{K. N.\} and Stahlheber, \{E. W.\} and Stanbridge, \{D. R.\} and Stansberry, \{J. A.\} and Steffl, \{A. J.\} and Strobel, \{D. F.\} and Stothoff, \{M. M.\} and T. Stryk and Stuart, \{J. R.\} and Summers, \{M. E.\} and Tapley, \{M. B.\} and A. Taylor and Taylor, \{H. W.\} and Tedford, \{R. M.\} and Throop, \{H. B.\} and Turner, \{L. S.\} and Umurhan, \{O. M.\} and \{Van Eck\}, J. and D. Velez and Versteeg, \{M. H.\} and Vincent, \{M. A.\} and Webbert, \{R. W.\} and Weidner, \{S. E.\} and Weigle, \{G. E.\} and Wendel, \{J. R.\} and White, \{O. L.\} and Whittenburg, \{K. E.\} and Williams, \{B. G.\} and Williams, \{K. E.\} and Williams, \{S. P.\} and Winters, \{H. L.\} and Zangari, \{A. M.\} and Zurbuchen, \{T. H.\}",

note = "Funding Information: Supported by NASA's New Horizons project via contracts NASW-02008 and NAS5-97271/TaskOrder30. Also supported by the National Research Council of Canada (J.J.K.). Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2019 American Association for the Advancement of Science. All rights reserved.",

year = "2019",

doi = "10.1126/science.aaw9771",

language = "British English",

volume = "364",

journal = "Science",

issn = "0036-8075",

publisher = "American Association for the Advancement of Science",

number = "6441",

}

Stern, SA, Weaver, HA, Spencer, JR, Olkin, CB, Gladstone, GR, Grundy, WM, Moore, JM, Cruikshank, DP, Elliott, HA, McKinnon, WB, Parker, JW, Verbiscer, AJ, Young, LA, Aguilar, DA, Albers, JM, Andert, T, Andrews, JP, Bagenal, F, Banks, ME, Bauer, BA, Bauman, JA, Bechtold, KE, Beddingfield, CB, Behrooz, N, Beisser, KB, Benecchi, SD, Bernardoni, E, Beyer, RA, Bhaskaran, S, Bierson, CJ, Binzel, RP, Birath, EM, Bird, MK, Boone, DR, Bowman, AF, Bray, VJ, Britt, DT, Brown, LE, Buckley, MR, Buie, MW, Buratti, BJ, Burke, LM, Bushman, SS, Carcich, B, Chaikin, AL, Chavez, CL, Cheng, AF, Colwell, EJ, Conard, SJ, Conner, MP, Conrad, CA, Cook, JC, Cooper, SB, Custodio, OS, Dalle Ore, CM, Deboy, CC, Dharmavaram, P, Dhingra, RD, Dunn, GF, Earle, AM, Egan, AF, Eisig, J, El-Maarry, MR, Engelbrecht, C, Enke, BL, Ercol, CJ, Fattig, ED, Ferrell, CL, Finley, TJ, Firer, J, Fischetti, J, Folkner, WM, Fosbury, MN, Fountain, GH, Freeze, JM, Gabasova, L, Glaze, LS, Green, JL, Griffith, GA, Guo, Y, Hahn, M, Hals, DW, Hamilton, DP, Hamilton, SA, Hanley, JJ, Harch, A, Harmon, KA, Hart, HM, Hayes, J, Hersman, CB, Hill, ME, Hill, TA, Hofgartner, JD, Holdridge, ME, Horányi, M, Hosadurga, A, Howard, AD, Howett, CJA, Jaskulek, SE, Jennings, DE, Jensen, JR, Jones, MR, Kang, HK, Katz, DJ, Kaufmann, DE, Kavelaars, JJ, Keane, JT, Keleher, GP, Kinczyk, M, Kochte, MC, Kollmann, P, Krimigis, SM, Kruizinga, GL, Kusnierkiewicz, DY, Lahr, MS, Lauer, TR, Lawrence, GB, Lee, JE, Lessac-Chenen, EJ, Linscott, IR, Lisse, CM, Lunsford, AW, Mages, DM, Mallder, VA, Martin, NP, May, BH, McComas, DJ, McNutt, RL, Mehoke, DS, Mehoke, TS, Nelson, DS, Nguyen, HD, Núñez, JI, Ocampo, AC, Owen, WM, Oxton, GK, Parker, AH, Pätzold, M, Pelgrift, JY, Pelletier, FJ, Pineau, JP, Piquette, MR, Porter, SB, Protopapa, S, Quirico, E, Redfern, JA, Regiec, AL, Reitsema, HJ, Reuter, DC, Richardson, DC, Riedel, JE, Ritterbush, MA, Robbins, SJ, Rodgers, DJ, Rogers, GD, Rose, DM, Rosendall, PE, Runyon, KD, Ryschkewitsch, MG, Saina, MM, Salinas, MJ, Schenk, PM, Scherrer, JR, Schlei, WR, Schmitt, B, Schultz, DJ, Schurr, DC, Scipioni, F, Sepan, RL, Shelton, RG, Showalter, MR, Simon, M, Singer, KN, Stahlheber, EW, Stanbridge, DR, Stansberry, JA, Steffl, AJ, Strobel, DF, Stothoff, MM, Stryk, T, Stuart, JR, Summers, ME, Tapley, MB, Taylor, A, Taylor, HW, Tedford, RM, Throop, HB, Turner, LS, Umurhan, OM, Van Eck, J, Velez, D, Versteeg, MH, Vincent, MA, Webbert, RW, Weidner, SE, Weigle, GE, Wendel, JR, White, OL, Whittenburg, KE, Williams, BG, Williams, KE, Williams, SP, Winters, HL, Zangari, AM & Zurbuchen, TH 2019, 'Initial results from the New Horizons exploration of 2014 MU₆₉, a small Kuiper Belt object', Science, vol. 364, no. 6441, eaaw9771. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aaw9771

TY - JOUR

T1 - Initial results from the New Horizons exploration of 2014 MU69, a small Kuiper Belt object

AU - Stern, S. A.

AU - Weaver, H. A.

AU - Spencer, J. R.

AU - Olkin, C. B.

AU - Gladstone, G. R.

AU - Grundy, W. M.

AU - Moore, J. M.

AU - Cruikshank, D. P.

AU - Elliott, H. A.

AU - McKinnon, W. B.

AU - Parker, J. Wm

AU - Verbiscer, A. J.

AU - Young, L. A.

AU - Aguilar, D. A.

AU - Albers, J. M.

AU - Andert, T.

AU - Andrews, J. P.

AU - Bagenal, F.

AU - Banks, M. E.

AU - Bauer, B. A.

AU - Bauman, J. A.

AU - Bechtold, K. E.

AU - Beddingfield, C. B.

AU - Behrooz, N.

AU - Beisser, K. B.

AU - Benecchi, S. D.

AU - Bernardoni, E.

AU - Beyer, R. A.

AU - Bhaskaran, S.

AU - Bierson, C. J.

AU - Binzel, R. P.

AU - Birath, E. M.

AU - Bird, M. K.

AU - Boone, D. R.

AU - Bowman, A. F.

AU - Bray, V. J.

AU - Britt, D. T.

AU - Brown, L. E.

AU - Buckley, M. R.

AU - Buie, M. W.

AU - Buratti, B. J.

AU - Burke, L. M.

AU - Bushman, S. S.

AU - Carcich, B.

AU - Chaikin, A. L.

AU - Chavez, C. L.

AU - Cheng, A. F.

AU - Colwell, E. J.

AU - Conard, S. J.

AU - Conner, M. P.

AU - Conrad, C. A.

AU - Cook, J. C.

AU - Cooper, S. B.

AU - Custodio, O. S.

AU - Dalle Ore, C. M.

AU - Deboy, C. C.

AU - Dharmavaram, P.

AU - Dhingra, R. D.

AU - Dunn, G. F.

AU - Earle, A. M.

AU - Egan, A. F.

AU - Eisig, J.

AU - El-Maarry, M. R.

AU - Engelbrecht, C.

AU - Enke, B. L.

AU - Ercol, C. J.

AU - Fattig, E. D.

AU - Ferrell, C. L.

AU - Finley, T. J.

AU - Firer, J.

AU - Fischetti, J.

AU - Folkner, W. M.

AU - Fosbury, M. N.

AU - Fountain, G. H.

AU - Freeze, J. M.

AU - Gabasova, L.

AU - Glaze, L. S.

AU - Green, J. L.

AU - Griffith, G. A.

AU - Guo, Y.

AU - Hahn, M.

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N1 - Funding Information: Supported by NASA's New Horizons project via contracts NASW-02008 and NAS5-97271/TaskOrder30. Also supported by the National Research Council of Canada (J.J.K.). Publisher Copyright: © 2019 American Association for the Advancement of Science. All rights reserved.

PY - 2019

Y1 - 2019

N2 - The Kuiper Belt is a distant region of the outer Solar System. On 1 January 2019, the New Horizons spacecraft flew close to (486958) 2014 MU69, a cold classical Kuiper Belt object approximately 30 kilometers in diameter. Such objects have never been substantially heated by the Sun and are therefore well preserved since their formation. We describe initial results from these encounter observations. MU69 is a bilobed contact binary with a flattened shape, discrete geological units, and noticeable albedo heterogeneity. However, there is little surface color or compositional heterogeneity. No evidence for satellites, rings or other dust structures, a gas coma, or solar wind interactions was detected. MU69's origin appears consistent with pebble cloud collapse followed by a low-velocity merger of its two lobes.

AB - The Kuiper Belt is a distant region of the outer Solar System. On 1 January 2019, the New Horizons spacecraft flew close to (486958) 2014 MU69, a cold classical Kuiper Belt object approximately 30 kilometers in diameter. Such objects have never been substantially heated by the Sun and are therefore well preserved since their formation. We describe initial results from these encounter observations. MU69 is a bilobed contact binary with a flattened shape, discrete geological units, and noticeable albedo heterogeneity. However, there is little surface color or compositional heterogeneity. No evidence for satellites, rings or other dust structures, a gas coma, or solar wind interactions was detected. MU69's origin appears consistent with pebble cloud collapse followed by a low-velocity merger of its two lobes.

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85066813209

U2 - 10.1126/science.aaw9771

DO - 10.1126/science.aaw9771

M3 - Article

C2 - 31097641

AN - SCOPUS:85066813209

SN - 0036-8075

VL - 364

JO - Science

JF - Science

IS - 6441

M1 - eaaw9771

ER -

Initial results from the New Horizons exploration of 2014 MU₆₉, a small Kuiper Belt object

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