29 November 2011 stellar occultation by 2060 Chiron: Symmetric jet-like features

Abstract

On 29 November 2011 UT, 2060 Chiron occulted a R = 14.9-mag star; data were successfully obtained at the 3-m NASA Infrared Telescope Facility (IRTF) on Mauna Kea and 2-m Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope Network (LCOGT) Faulkes Telescope North (FTN) at Haleakala. The MORIS lightcurve shows a solid-body detection of Chiron's nucleus with a chord duration of 16.0. ±. 1.4. s, corresponding to a chord length of 158. ±. 14. km. Symmetric, dual extinction features in the FTN light curve indicate the presence of optically thick material roughly 300. km from the body midpoint. The duration of the features indicates a 3. ±. 2. km feature separated by 10-14. km from a second 7. ±. 2. km feature. The symmetry, optical thickness, and narrow size of these features allow for the intriguing possibility of a near-circular arc or shell of material.