How can 2005FY9 be both ultra-red and ultra-bright?

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h2ouniverse

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<p>2005FY9 is one of the reddest objects known to date in the Solar System. But it is also believed to have an albedo as high as 0.8... (central value, +/- 0.2). That would be due to CH4 ice, with large grains according to:&nbsp;</p><p>http://www.iop.org/EJ/abstract/1538-3881/133/1/284</p><p>Doesn't that combination sound strange? CH4 should form tholins overtime, that should decrease the albedo.</p><p>A recent article http://arxiv.org/abs/0801.3115&nbsp;claims detection of some N2 ice, contrary to the claim of the above article. </p><p>Does anybody have clues about the possibility for a body to be bright red? Because otherwise, that should point to an albedo close to the one of Pluto (or even lower as it is redder than Pluto), and not to an albedo like the one of Triton (with very little methane on the surface).</p><p>Then the diameter would be in the upper uncertainty range,&nbsp;close to 1900, 2000km...</p><p>&nbsp;</p>
 
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