Are Dark, Red, Small KBOs Devoid of Volatiles?

Cycle 2 program 3979 will collect imaging data for 8 faint Kuiper Belt objects (KBOs) in 6 filters in pairs covering both long and short wavelengths using NIRCam. The objects in this program are all moving solar system targets and we will work to ensure that the observations are scheduled when they are in blank patches of sky. However, our analysis plans will include removing background sources with image subtractions, if necessary. We have experience previously with HST image
reductions and are familiar with PSF fitting processes for spacecraft data. Funding is being requested for development of an image analysis and photometric calibration pipeline for this dataset with some moderate overlap between the expertise of individuals on the proposal: Benecchi and Holler. We don’t expect to start from scratch, but fully expect to run into challenges that we have not yet anticipated and feel that it is prudent to work on two parallel pipelines to cross-check our analysis to ensure robust results. After we are satisfied with the image analysis and interpretation, we will then publish a paper discussing our procedures and photometric results. These results will be interpreted in the context of the Cycle 1 (2418) DiSCo-TNOs program (which we expect will have published results by the time we have fully analyzed our dataset) as well as with respect to the work done by New Horizons and other relevant literature. One of the objects in our program, 2011 JY31, is a known close binary. While it will be discussed within the sample of 8 objects, we also plan a separate publication for it due to its unique property as a binary.