(Proposal ID) S16B-096

(PI) Wang, Shiang-Yu

(Proposal Title)
Exploring Shape and Rotational Properties of Trans-Neptunian Objects

(Abstract)
We propose to perform follow-up observations of 43~Trans-Neptunian Objects 
(TNOs) detected by the Outer Solar System Origins Survey (OSSOS). OSSOS is a 
CFHT survey covering 168 deg^2, with a goal of discovering ~600 TNOs. OSSOS 
provides a unique, statistically large data set of dynamically characterized 
objects for follow-up observations and science. We request two nights of HSC 
time to measure r'-band light curves of 43 OSSOS objects. These objects are 
small and faint (D<100 km; r'>23.5 mag); this parameter space is largely 
unexplored. With the wide field of HSC, we can observe up to 10 objects in one 
pointing, while the large aperture allows us to obtain high-quality 
measurements of the faint targets. The light curves of these objects will 
provide rotational velocity and shape information, which we will analyze in a 
dynamical context to learn about the collisional environment of the outer 
Solar System. At present, there has been no concentrated effort to study the 
rotation periods and photometric variability of the smallest TNOs. Our 
proposed measurements will increase the number of faint TNO light curves by 
almost an order of magnitude, and thus provide unique insight into the 
formation history of the various TNO sub-populations.