Author: Doc. Dr. Mirek Broz, Astronomical Institute, Charles University

Title: Do we have another dwarf planet in the main belt?

Abstract:
2nd-generation instruments installed at the ESO's
Very Large Telescope enable unprecedented observations.
Using the SPHERE extreme adaptive optics instrument,
it is possible to image protoplanetary disks, giant
extrasolar planets, but also asteroids in the Solar System.
At a distance of the order of 100 million km, 1 pixel
corresponds to approximately 3 km, which allows us to
resolve topography, craters, or albedo features. We can
study relations between surface and surrounding asteroids,
which sometimes form "families". Observations of (10) Hygiea
in the framework of the ESO Large Programme (ID 199.C-0074)
turned out to be a surprise, because the body rather resembles
a dwarf planet.