Minor planets. I.
Light curve set for Vesta obtained and compared with previous observations, discussing probable spherical shape deduction
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Light curve set for Vesta obtained and compared with previous observations, discussing probable spherical shape deduction
Number densities of hydrogen species in hydrogen plasma - tables
Atmospheric component effects on attenuation of infrared radiation
Light curves for Vesta compared and rotation derived from aspect change effect on rotational period
Mn, S and rare earth additions influence on Inconel alloy weld microfissuring including material, hot ductility and tensile strength data
Lightcurves for 624 Hektor with Radcliffe, Kitt Peak, Catalina and Cerro Tololo reflectors, noting asteroid shape and rotational axis
Icarus asteroid positions, UBV magnitude, brightness, colors, light curves and polarization, noting stony-iron composition
Lydia asteroid observations, presenting light curves brightness and phase functions near opposition
Venusian photochemistry, discussing hydrogen source from HCl, loss of water in relation to HCl, carbon dioxide stability and COS and hydrogen sulfide in visible clouds
Astronomical observations of the asteroids are discussed. The origin of asteroids and their interrelationships with comets, meteorites, and meteors are considered. Possible space missions and further topics of research are also discussed.
Review of the rotation period, phase coefficients, and polarization curve of the unusual asteroid Flora. It is an almost spherical asteroid whose period of rotation is probably 13.6 h, but may be only one half of this. Its surface layer consists of a dark material resembling lunar surface soil, but since the polarization curves of Flora and the moon, though generally similar, are not identical the surface of Flora must differ somewhat either in composition or in texture from that of the moon.
Evaluation of 12 polarization measurements of Deimos in blue light were obtained at phase angles between 5 and 31 deg. A well-developed negative branch, with minimum polarization approximately -1.5% near phase angle 11 deg, indicates that Deimos is not bare rock but has a particulate surface layer of dark dust or powder. The phase angle of inversion is 19.5 deg, and the slope of the positive branch is 0.26 plus or minus 0.01% per degree. On the basis of the slope-albedo law for the moon and the major asteroids, the geometrical albedo of Deimos in blue light should be 0.07 plus or minus 0.01, and the radius 5.4 plus or minus 0.8 km. These values are in good agreement with preliminary Mariner 9 data.
The Mariner 6 and 7 infrared spectrometers provided data which, in principle, determine upper limits on the possible atmospheric abundance of every gaseous substance that was undetected but which has recognized absorptions in the accessible spectral region, 1.9 to 14.4 microns. Through supporting laboratory determinations of curves of growth under pressure-broadening conditions appropriate to Mars, upper limits can be specified (expressed first in cm-atm, STP, for a vertical column and then in parts per million) for NO2, NH3, C3O2, SO2, OCS, NO, O3, CH4, N2O, HCL, HBr, and H2S. In addition, considerations of band contours, moments of inertia, and experimental absorption coefficients make it possible to place useful upper limits on 27 additional substances that were not detected and for which curves of growth have not been measured.
UBV photometry, lightcurves, a polarization-phase relation, and rotational polarization curves of Toro were obtained, June-August 1972. The average colors are B-V = 0.87 and U-B = 0.47 mag, showing some reddening with phase. The geometric albedo of Toro in the B filter is 0.14 which corresponds to an effective mean radius of 2.2 km plus or minus 0.4 (p.e.). The rotational polarization curves indicate that the lightcurves are mostly due to shape, but some albedo variation over the surface is detected as well. The shape is elongated, and probably irregular, with a cross-sectional area ratio of about 3.2, the maximum effective radius is 2.8 km and the minimum, 1.6 km.
We have derived a visible and near-infrared spectral reflectivity curve for (1685) Toro. It is unique among asteroids so far measured. Toro is the asteroid which most closely resembles laboratory spectral reflectivities of many equilibrated L-type chondrites, the most common meteorite falls.
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Radar observations of Toro were made with a (one-dimensional) resolution of 0.005 arc sec. When radar and optical data are combined, they suggest an irregular rocky surface slightly smoothed by a mantle of loose material.