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Tedesco, E. F.

Publications and source records attributed to Tedesco, E. F..

30 records · Page 2
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NASA NTRS1982

The eight-color asteroid survey - Standard stars

Compositionally diagnostic information regarding the spectral reflectance of faint asteroids and planetary satellites, obtained using a photometric system, is presented. Standard UBV and range in effective wavelength from 0.34 to 1.04 microns are among the eight broadband filters relative to the study. An InGaAsP photomultiplier of high quantum efficiencies employed for longer wavelengths, allows work to magnitude 17 and fainter when used in conjunction with a 2 m telescope. Magnitudes and color indices with mean uncertainty + or - 0.006 mag for 50 standard stars are presented, and by setting the mean colors of four of these stars to zero, the zero point of the system is established. Sun color implications resulting from the study are U-B = 0.20 + or - 0.02, and B-V = 0.67 + or - 0.02.

Tedesco, E. F.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Do comets evolve into asteroids - Evidence from physical studies

Physical observations of low-activity periodic comets and asteroids in distant and peculiar orbits are reviewed. In particular, magnitude studies and reflection spectra at visible and infrared wavelengths are discussed. While it may never be possible to prove unambiguously that a cometary nucleus has been observed, the fainter a given comet is, the more likely it is that some light reflected from a solid surface will be observed. Studies of magnitudes obtained by Roemer suggest that at certain periods the nuclei of P/Arend-Rigaux and P/Neujmin 1 may be photometrically resolved. It is shown that this may also be the case for P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1, but that it is less likely for P/Tempel 2. At times of minimum activity, the optical spectra of P/Arend-Rigaux and P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1 resemble those of RD-type asteroids like 944 Hidalgo. In order to progress with physical studies of cometary nuclei, an increased effort should be made to obtain magnitudes and other physical observations of comets during stages of minimal activity.

Degewij, J.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Asteroid compositional rings: Clues to the compositions of primordial planetesimals in the middle solar system

The distribution of asteroid taxonomic types at distances between 2.1 and 5.3 AU is discussed. There are four major, overlapping but compositionally distinct rings of asteroids present within this range of heliocentric distance. The rings, within which 80% of each of 4 major taxonomic types (S, C, P, and D) fall, are centered at 2.6 (0.7), 2.9 (0.8), 3.4 (0.7), and 4.6 (1.5) AU respectively, where the numbers in parentheses are the ring widths in AU. The overall physical resemblence between the asteroid rings and planetary rings is poor; physically the asteroid belt more closely resembles a debris strewn satellite system. Once the mineralogy of these taxonomic types is established, and complications arising from postaccretionary metamorphism are dealt with, they may be used as probes of physical conditions in the early solar system. The identification of primordial planetesimals can be used in studying the siblings of the planetesimals responsible for the final stage of planetary accretion.

Tedesco, E. F.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Minor planets and related objects. XXIX - Asteroid 29 Amphitrite

UBV photometry and lightcurves of asteroid 29 Amphitrite from all observed apparitions (March 1956-May 1977) are combined to obtain a phase function having a linear phase coefficient of 0.030 + or - 0.002 mag/deg and a mean absolute magnitude of 6.19 + or - 0.04. Amphitrite displays a reddening of its B - V color index with increasing solar phase angle: 0.816 + or - 0.004 at a phase angle of 2 deg and 0.848 + or - 0.004 at 23 deg. Since Amphitrite's orbital inclination is low (6 deg) and its lightcurve amplitudes range between 0.06 and 0.11 mag, and are well distributed in longitude, it is concluded that the obliquity of its pole is significantly different from zero. During some apparitions Amphitrite's light curves display only one maximum and minimum per 5.3904 + or - 0.007-hr rotation period while in others as many as five of each are present. This is interpreted to mean that Amphitrite has a quasi-spherical shape with a highly irregular and/or variegated surface.

Tedesco, E. F.↗
NASA NTRS1981

The diameter and albedo of 1943 Anteros

The results of broadband visual and infrared photometry of the Apollo-Amor asteroid 1943 Anteros during its 1980 apparition are reported. By means of a radiometric model, a diameter of 2.3 + or - 0.2 km and a visual geometric albedo of 0.13 + or - 0.03 is calculated. The albedo and reflectance spectrum of Anteros imply that it is a type S asteroid. Thus, Anteros may have a silicate surface similar to other Apollo-Amor asteroids as well as some stony-iron meteorites.

Veeder, G. J.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Albedo and color contrasts on asteroid surfaces

Asteroids in general display only small or negligible variations in spectrum or albedo during a rotational cycle. Color variations with rotation are described in the literature but are usually comparable to the noise in the measurements. Twenty-four asteroids have been systematically monitored for such color changes. Only 3 Juno, 4 Vesta, 6 Hebe, 71 Niobe, 349 Dembowska, and 944 Hidalgo display color variations larger than 0.03 mag. In each of these cases the asteroid appears redder near maximum brightness. Of seven asteroids monitored polarimetrically, only 4 Vesta shows a convincing variation, attributed to an albedo change with rotation. The lightcurve can be explained by albedo differences alone; Vesta apparently has a nearly spheroidal shape. Nothwithstanding the above results, the degree of uniformity of most asteroid surfaces is remarkable. If asteroids exist with large discrete domains of ferrosilicate, metallic, and/or carbonaceous material together on their surfaces, they have not yet been identified.

Degewij, J.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Trajectories and orbits from the NASA-NMSU Meteor Observatory. II

Trajectory data and orbital elements for 12 double-station meteors photographed by the NASA-NMSU Meteor Observatory during the winter of 1975-1976 are presented. Three of these are members of the Quadrantid stream. Photoelectric timing of meteors, uncertainties in the derived orbital elements, and monitoring of the night sky with a two-channel photometer are discussed.

Harvey, G. A.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Trajectories and orbits from the NASA-NMSU meteor observatory. I

Reduced trajectory data and orbital elements are reported for 20 double-station meteors photographed at the NASA-NMSU meteor observatory during the winter of 1974/75. The objects photographed include 10 sporadic meteors and 10 members of the Geminid shower. The data for the sporadic meteors indicate that their magnitudes range from 0 to -4, all have eccentricities greater than 0.4, all but three are in direct orbits, and one is probably a member of the Coma Berenicid shower. The elements for the Geminids are obtained using times of appearance chosen by adopting 34.6 km/s as the heliocentric velocity of the shower. The results are compared with previous orbital determinations, and it is concluded that there is no evidence for significant evolution of the Geminid-stream orbit over a period of several decades.

Tedesco, E. F.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Photometry of R Coronae Borealis

Visual and photoelectric observations of R Coronae Borealis are presented, including a number of observations surrounding the 1974 minimum. The recent visual history of the variable is examined and the discrete cloud obscuration model is considered.

Dawson, D. W.↗