Marco A. Muñoz-Gutiérrez

Academia Sinica · Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics

Debris discs consist of belts of bodies ranging in size from dust grains to planetesimals; these belts are visible markers of planetary systems around other stars that can reveal the influence of extrasolar planets through their shape and structure. Two key stirring mechanisms — self-stirring by planetesimals and secular perturbation by an external...

Debris discs consist of belts of bodies ranging in size from dust grains to planetesimals; these belts are visible markers of planetary systems around other stars that can reveal the influence of extrasolar planets through their shape and structure. Two key stirring mechanisms -- self-stirring by planetesimals and secular perturbation by an externa...

We present photometric observations and numerical simulations of 2016 SD 106 , a low-inclination ( i = 4.°8) extreme trans-Neptunian Object with a large semimajor axis ( a = 350 au) and perihelion ( q = 42.6 au). This object possesses a peculiar neutral color of g − r = 0.45 ± 0.05 and g − i = 0.72 ± 0.06, in comparison with other distant trans-Nep...

We present photometric observations and numerical simulations of 2016 SD$_{106}$, a low inclination ($i=4.8^{\circ}$) extreme trans-Neptunian Object with a large semi-major axis ($a=350$ au) and perihelion ($q= 42.6$ au). This object possesses a peculiar neutral color of $g-r = 0.45\pm0.05$ and $g-i=0.72\pm0.06$, in comparison with other distant tr...

Using the high-cadence lightcurves collected from the FOSSIL survey, rotation periods of 17 small (diameter 1 km < D < 3 km) Hilda asteroids (hereinafter Hildas) were obtained. Combined with the previously measured rotation periods of Hildas, a spin-rate limit appears at around 3 hr. Assuming rubble-pile structures for the Hildas, a bulk density of...

The distinctive set of Saturnian small satellites, Aegaeon, Methone, Anthe, and Pallene, constitutes an excellent laboratory to understand the evolution of systems immersed in co-orbital dusty rings/arcs, subjected to perturbations from larger satellites and non-gravitational forces. In this work, we carried out a comprehensive numerical exploratio...

The distinctive set of Saturnian small satellites, Aegaeon, Methone, Anthe, and Pallene, constitutes an excellent laboratory to understand the evolution of systems immersed in co-orbital dusty rings/arcs, subjected to perturbations from larger satellites and non-gravitational forces. In this work, we carried out a comprehensive numerical exploratio...

Rotation periods of 53 small (diameters 2 km < D < 40 km) Jupiter Trojans (JTs) were derived using the high-cadence lightcurves obtained by the FOSSIL phase I survey, a Subaru/Hyper Suprime-Cam intensive program. These are the first reported periods measured for JTs with D < 10 km. We found a lower limit of the rotation period near 4 hr, instead of...

Rotation periods of 53 small (diameters $2 < D < 40$ km) Jupiter Trojans (JTs) were derived using the high-cadence light curves obtained by the FOSSIL phase I survey, a Subaru/Hyper Suprime-Cam intensive program. These are the first reported periods measured for JTs with $D < 10$ km. We found a lower limit of the rotation period near 4 hr, instead...

We carried out an extensive analysis of the stability of the outer solar system, making use of the frequency analysis technique over short-term integrations of nearly a hundred thousand test particles, as well as a statistical analysis of 200, 1 Gyr long numerical simulations, which consider the mutual perturbations of the giant planets and the 34...

We examine the dynamics of small bodies in orbits similar to that of comet 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1, i.e. near-circular orbits between Jupiter and Saturn. As of late 2019, there are 14 other known bodies in this region that lie in similar orbits. Previous research has shown that this region of the solar system, which in this work we call the "nea...

We examine the dynamics of small bodies in orbits similar to that of comet 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1, i.e. near-circular orbits between Jupiter and Saturn. As of late 2019, there are 14 other known bodies in this region that lie in similar orbits. Previous research has shown that this region of the solar system, which in this work we call the “nea...

The ring system and small satellites of Neptune were discovered during Voyager 2 flyby in 1989 (Smith et al.1989). In this work we analyse the diffusion maps which can give an overview of the system. As a result we found the width of unstable and stable regions close to each satellite. The innermost Galle ring, which is further from the satellites,...

The ring system and small satellites of Neptune were discovered during Voyager 2 flyby in 1989 (Smith et al. in Science 246:1422, 1989). In this work we analyse the diffusion maps which can give an overview of the system. As a result we found the width of unstable and stable regions close to each satellite. The innermost Galle ring, which is furthe...

We explore the long-term evolution of a bias-free orbital representation of the cometary nuclei (with diameters above 2 km) of the Kuiper belt, using the so-called L7 synthetic model from CFEPS, which consists of three dynamical sub-populations: the Classical, the Resonant, and the Scattering. The dynamical evolution of belt particles is studied un...

In this work we explore a new dynamical path for the delivery of low-inclination comets. In a configuration formed by an interior giant planet and an exterior massive debris disk, where the mass is accounted for by the 50 largest objects in the disk, the strongest mean motion resonances of the giant, located along the belt, are replenished with new...

In this work we explore a new dynamical path for the delivery of low-inclination comets. In a configuration formed by an interior giant planet and an exterior massive debris disk, where the mass is accounted for by the 50 largest objects in the disk, the strongest mean motion resonances of the giant, located along the belt, are replenished with new...

Aegaeon, Methone, Anthe, and Pallene are four Saturnian small moons, discovered by the Cassini spacecraft. Although their orbital characterization has been carried on by a number of authors, their long-term evolution has not been studied in detail so far. In this work, we numerically explore the long-term evolution, up to $10^5$ yr, of the small mo...

We have explored the evolution of a cold debris disk under the gravitational influence of dwarf planet sized objects (DPs), both in the presence and absence of an interior giant planet. Through detailed long-term numerical simulations, we demonstrate that, when the giant planet is not present, DPs can stir the eccentricities and inclinations of dis...

With the use of long-term numerical simulations, we study the evolution and orbital behavior of cometary nuclei in cold Kuiper belt-like debris disks under the gravitational influence of dwarf planets (DPs); we carry out these simulations with and without the presence of a Neptune-like giant planet. This exploratory study shows that in the absence...

The orbital elements of comet Halley are known to a very high precision, suggesting that the calculation of its future dynamical evolution is straightforward. In this paper we seek to characterize the chaotic nature of the present day orbit of comet Halley and to quantify the timescale over which its motion can be predicted confidently. In addition...

A model for calculating the cosmic star formation rate density history in a hierarchical Λ Cold Dark Matter (ΛCDM) universe is presented and compared with observations. The role of different astrophysical processes as a function of mass and epoch, and potential shortcomings are discussed.

Crystalline bulks, obtained by the Bridgman technique from a melt that was previously prepared by mixing equal molar fractions of the salts KBr, KCl and KI were characterized by powder and single-plate X-ray diffraction. The crystalline bulks are formed by a composite material consisting of a highly textured aggregation of crystallites of two diffe...