Surface composition of TNOs and Centaurs: visible and near-infrared spectroscopy

Visible and near-infrared spectroscopy is the most effective technique to investigate the surface composition of atmosphereless bodies. However, the intrinsic faintness of Trans-Neptunian Objects (TNOs) and Centaurs imposes strong observational limits, and the sample of available information on these objects is still rather limited. Visible and near-infrared spectra, as well as models of the surface compositions, are today available only for about fifteen objects among TNOs and Centaurs. The most evident property is the huge variety of spectral features, physical characteristics, and compositions. This poses still unanswered questions about the origin and the early evolution of these small bodies. To cite this article: E. Dotto et al., C. R. Physique 4 (2003).