A wide-field CCD survey for Centaurs and Kuiper Belt Objects

A modified Baker-Nunn camera was used to conduct a wide-held survey of 1428 deg(2) of sky near the ecliptic in search of bright Kuiper Belt objects an d Centaurs. This area is an order of magnitude larger than any previously p ublished CCD survey for Centaurs and Kuiper Belt objects. No new objects br ighter than red magnitude m(R) = 18.8 and moving at a rate 1 " to 20 " hr(- )(1) were discovered, although one previously discovered Centaur, 1997 CU26 (Chariklo), was serendipitously detected. The parameters of the survey wer e characterized using both visual and automated techniques. From this surve y, the empirical projected surface density of Centaurs was found to be Sigm a (C)(m(R) less than or equal to 18.8) = 7.8(-6.6)(+16.0) x 10(-4) deg(-2), and we found a projected surface density 3 alpha upper confidence limit fo r Kuiper Belt objects of Sigma (K)(m(R) less than or equal to 18.8) < 4.1 x 10(-3) deg(-2). We discuss the current state of the cumulative luminosity functions of both Centaurs and Kuiper Belt objects. Through a Monte Carlo s imulation we show that the size distribution of Centaurs is consistent with a q <similar to> 4 differential power law, similar to the size distributio n of the parent Kuiper Belt objects. The Centaur population is of order 1 x 10(7) (radius greater than or equal to1 km), assuming a geometric albedo o f 0.04. We predict about 100 Centaurs larger than 50 km in radius, of which only four are presently known. The current total mass of the Centaurs is a bout 10(-4) M-circle dot. No dust clouds were detected resulting from Kuipe r Belt object collisions, placing a 3 a upper limit of fewer than 600 colli sionally produced clouds of m(R) < 18.8 per year.