The-Positions,-Colors,-and-Photometric-Variability-of-Pluto’s-Small-Satellites-from-HST-Observations.pdfVIP

The Positions, Colors, and Photometric Variability of Pluto’s Small Satellites from HST Observations in 2005-2006 S.A. Stern Space Science Engineering Division Southwest Research Institute 1050 Walnut Street Boulder, CO 80302 astern@swri.edu M.J. Mutchler Space Telescope Science Institute 3700 San Martin Drive Baltimore, MD21218 H.A. Weaver Space Department 11100 Johns Hopkins Road Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory Laurel, MD 20723 and A.J. Steffl Space Studies Department Southwest Research Institute 1050 Walnut Street Boulder, CO 80302 Submitted to The Astronomical Journal: 29 April 2006 Running Head: Pluto’s Small Moons: Astrometry and Photometry 06 Pages, 03 Tables, 01 Figures 1 Abstract Pluto’s two small satellites, temporarily designated S/2005 P 1 and S/2005 P 2, were observed on four dates ( 15.1 and 18.1 May 2005, 15.7 February 2006, and 2.8 March 2006) using the Hubble Space Telescope’s (HST) Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS). Here we collect together the astrometric positions of these two satellites (henceforth “P1” and “P2”), as well as a single color measurement for each satellite and initial constraints on their photometric variability obtained during these observations. We find t