This listing attempts to break down asteroid/TNO satellites by level of confirmation, using the following categories:

• satellites with permanent designations: IAU permanent name and designation assigned
• well-observed satellites: satellites with computed orbits
• confirmed satellites: satellite detections that are confirmed by follow-up observations or are otherwise unambiguous
• probable satellites: satellite detections from a single set of observations (for direct imaging) or single apparition (for photometric lightcurve-derived detections)

The separate page of Other reports of asteroid/TNO companions includes those detections that might be classifed as:

• possible satellites: more ambiguous satellite detections
• refuted satellites: proposed detections subsequently refuted (includes cases of contact binary asteroids)

Note: this listing is tenative. I do not claim to be an authoritative judge regarding level of confirmation, and corrections are welcome.

© 2001-2011, 2012 by Wm. Robert Johnston.
Last modified 30 April 2012.
Return to Home. Return to Astronomy and Space. Return to Asteroids with Satellites.