TNO 2010: Conference Home

Abstract deadline: April 30, 2010

Goal

The dynamical structure and physical properties of the Trans-Neptunian Region holds the key to the understanding of the formation and early evolution of the Solar System. The goal of this conference is to review the current state of knowledge of the TN region and to synthesize a comprehensive view. This will be accomplished by bringing together researchers from a wide range of fields including observers, modelers, and laboratory experimentalists.

Venue

The meeting will take place in historical Philadelphia, within walking distance of Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. The meeting itself will be held at the College of Physicians, 19 South 22nd Street.

On June 30 you will have the option of attending the Walnut Street Theater production of Fiddler on the Roof (see Events page for more information).

Approach and Topics

This meeting will have a slightly different organization and focus than usual. In particular, it will focus on what we don't know or understand, rather than what we know. We have developed a list of questions and have designed sessions centered on them - mixing observations, lab experiments, and theory within each session. The talks should concentrate on how we hope to be able to answer these questions in the light of new instruments and techniques that are coming online. We have also decided to ask younger people to give the invited talks in the hope of getting a fresh perspective. In addition, there will be a panel discussion at the end of each session.

Size-distribution: What is the size distribution of TNOs? How did such populations come about? What does this tell us about planet/planetesimals formation? Is there really evidence for multiple populations? Are there massive objects out there? What future observations do we need (TAOS, HST, PanSTARRS, new horizons, and LSST)?

Invited Speakers: Andy Youdin, Cesar Fuentes

Orbits: What is the radial extension of the Kuiper Belt? Is the edge real? Are there multiple populations with different orbital element distributions? How did they come about? Where do the detached objects come from? Which population is the source of the JFCs and the HTCs? How does the KB/SD relate to the Sedna population (if there is one) and to the Oort cloud? What future observations do we need

Invited Speakers: Lynne Jones, Matt Tiscareno

Surfaces: What is responsible for the diversity of surface types we see? What processes (ex. radiation processing, surface gardening, micrometeorite impacts, mutual systems exchanging material, and reactions on the surface) are most important? Is there a correlation with size? Why is all (or almost all) the water ice we see crystalline? What do the spectroscopically "bland" bodies have on their surfaces? Do TNOs have transient atmospheres? What will Pluto and Charon look like when we ge there?

Invited Speakers: Emily Schaller, Rosario Brunetto

Interiors: What are the bulk densities? Is there really a correlation between density and size? Do ultra-high density TNOs really exist? If so, how did they form? Are the large TNOs differentiated? What is their internal structure? How common will internal activity be?

Invited Speaker: Amy Barr

Binaries: How did binaries form? What is the separation distribution and mass ratio distribution? Is the fraction of binaries size dependent? Members of binaries? Are members of binary identical from the physical point of view? How do KBO satellite systems evolve with time?

Invited Speaker: Hilke Schlichting

Scientific Organizing Committee

Hal Levison
Matthew Lehner
Antonietta Barucci
Hermann Boehnhardt
Brett Gladman
Matt Holman
Alessandro Morbidelli
Keith Noll
Alan Stern
Mike Brown

Local Organizing Committee

Matthew Lehner
Hal Levison
Steve Bickerton
Federica Bianco
Bhuvnesh Jain

For more information or to be added to our email lists please contact tno-info@tno.swri.org.

TNO 2010