10-08-2016, 07:02 AM
(10-08-2016, 04:45 AM)LocalFluff Wrote: Is there really such an abrupt cut off in the size distribution? 37 which have 220 km diameter, and none larger than that? Seems incredible. Compare with the size distribution of the asteroids:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Masses_of_asteroids_vs_main_belt.png
Is there some error or misunderstanding in this data?
That "37" figure represents a group of centaurs with a mean diameter of 220 km. This would include some larger and some smaller (but not so small as to fall into the next bin, which has a mean of 215).
Also, I purposely left out the very largest one(s), like Chariklo, as such named bodies tend to acquire sentimental value. I can easily imagine people arguing for the historical significance of these, and not wanting to dismantle them.
Joe Strout
Lead Developer, High Frontier