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At least 883 records · Page 49

Orbit Determination For Lucy's First Asteroid Encounter: The Dinkinesh (1999VD57) Flyby

Lucy, NASA’s 13th Discovery program mission, launched on October 16, 2021, is enroute to explore the Jupiter-Trojan asteroids situated at the L4 and L5 Lagrange points. Along this trajectory, Lucy will conduct flybys of two main belt asteroids and perform three Earth fly-bys. This paper delves into the Orbit Determination (OD) process during the Dinkinesh flyby, marking Lucy’s inaugural encounter with an asteroid. The Dinkinesh flyby achieved a significant milestone, flawlessly completing the engineering systems checkout. The discussion herein encompasses the OD strategy, setup, and computed OD solutions during operations. The paper further explores the impact of solar conjunction on the OD solutions and decisions and sheds light on the discovery of Selam, a contact binary orbiting Dinkinesh. Preliminary reconstructed trajectories for both Lucy and Dinkinesh, and an initial state of Selam, are presented. The close approach radial distance of Lucy from Dinkinesh was 430.63 km±0.02km in formal uncertainty.

Jeroen L. Geeraert↗

Abundant Ammonia and Nitrogen-Rich Soluble Organic Matter in Samples From Asteroid (101955) Bennu

Organic matter in meteorites reveals clues about early Solar System chemistry and the origin of molecules important to life, but terrestrial exposure complicates interpretation. Samples returned from the B-type asteroid Bennu by the Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identifcation, and Security–Regolith Explorer mission enabled us to study pristine carbonaceous astromaterial without uncontrolled exposure to Earth’s biosphere. Here we show that Bennu samples are volatile rich, with more carbon, nitrogen and ammonia than samples from asteroid Ryugu and most meteorites. Nitrogen-15 isotopic enrichments indicate that ammonia and other N-containing soluble molecules formed in a cold molecular cloud or the outer protoplanetary disk. We detected amino acids (including 14 of the 20 used in terrestrial biology), amines, formaldehyde, carboxylic acids, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and N-heterocycles (including all fve nucleobases found in DNA and RNA), along with ~10,000 N-bearing chemical species. All chiral non-protein amino acids were racemic or nearly so, implying that terrestrial life’s left-handed chirality may not be due to bias in prebiotic molecules delivered by impacts. The relative abundances of amino acids and other soluble organics suggest formation and alteration by low-temperature reactions, possibly in NH3-rich fuids. Bennu’s parent asteroid developed in or accreted ices from a reservoir in the outer Solar System where ammonia ice was stable.

Daniel P Glavin↗

Phosphate Textural Diversity in CI Chondrites and C-Type Asteroids

Introduction: Apatite, Ca 5 (PO 4 ) 3 (CL/F/OH-), is a ubiquitous phosphate found throughout the solar system, including the most primitive solids, CI-chondrites [1,2] and related samples of carbonaceous asteroids Ryugu [3] and Bennu [4], returned by JAXA’s Hayabusa2 and NASA’s OSIRIS-REx missions, respectively. Apatite in these primitive solids is found as individual grains or mineral clusters and has been inferred to form from the hydrothermal sequence during cooling of their respective parent body or bodies. To better understand the formation history and reworking of these early phosphates we have undertaken a highly coordinated study of phosphate microstructures, geochemistry and U/Pb geochronology from a suite of CI meteorites and carbonaceous asteroid samples. These data have identified novel phosphate microstructures and complex relationships across a suite of apatite grains from the early solar system, indicating multiple episodes of growth and modification on the CI parent body(ies). Methods: Samples of CI chondrites, Alais, Ivuna, Orgueil, Oued Chebeika 002, Yamato (Y) 82162, Y980115, Y980134, and two chips of Hayabusa2 Ryugu particles (A0262 and C0263) have been acquired for analysis. The bulk texture of the samples were first scanned by X-ray Computed Tomography (XCT) using the Nikon XT H 320 within the XFACT facility at NASA JSC or the Xradia 620 Versa at the UTCT facility. Based on the identification of petrofabrics or features of interest from the XCT data, samples were chipped, oriented, potted in epoxy and thick sections were prepared. After anhydrously polishing the samples with silicon carbide and dry diamond powder down to 1 µm, the samples were ion polished using a Hitachi ArBlade. Energy dispersive Xray spectrometry (EDS) maps were collected to ID phosphates of interest using a JEOL 7900F SEM. The internal microstructures of identified phosphates were then mapped by electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) using the JEOL 7900F. Based on the EDS and EBSD data, domains of interest were targeted for quantitative chemical analyses using a JEOL 8530 EPMA. Subsequently, in situ U-Pb and 207 Pb/ 206 Pb ages will be collected using a Cameca ims1290 secondary ion mass spectrometer at UCLA across a range of microstructures. Results: Apatite grains are ubiquitous throughout the CI chondrites and carbonaceous asteroid materials, found as individual grains, disseminated clusters or grain aggregates. Apatite grains are associated with serpentine, magnet-ite, and/or carbonate. Of particular interest, we have identified individual and aggregate polycrystalline grains ex-hibiting an internal ‘honeycomb’ texture (Fig. 1). Some of these grains appear overprinted by subsequent alteration while others remain unaltered. Apatite halogen sites are dominated by the missing component, assumed to be OH, and F, comparable to published values from Bennu, Ryugu and CM-chondrites [3-5]. However, the Yamato CI-like meteorites show a broader range of Cl values, and one grain from Alais is dominated by CL. Summary: Apatite growth features indicate a protracted and complex growth history, consistent with precipitation from an evolving fluid system. The ‘honeycomb’ texture identified in some CI meteorites is, to the best of our knowledge, the first report of such a microstructure in meteoritic phosphate. The microtextures and zoning will guide subsequent age analyses, to better constrain the formation and reworking of phosphate in CI(-like) materials. Acknowledgments: We thank the National Institute of Polar Research, Japan for samples of Y82162, 980115 and 980134 meteorites, ASU’s Buseck Center for Meteorite Studies for samples of Ivuna and Alais meteorites, and JAXA curation for chips of Ryugu material. This work was funded by NASA ROSES LARS grant 24-LARS24-0014. References: [1] Morlok et al., 2016, GCA 70:5371-5394. [2] Alfin g et al., 2019, Geochemistry 79:125532. [3] Nakamura et al. (2022) Science 379:1-15. [4] Seifert et al. (2026) MAPS 61:504-521. [5] Piralla et al. (2021) MAPS 56:809-828.

CI chondrites↗

Estimating the Mass of Asteroid 433 Eros During the Near Spacecraft Flyby

The terminal navigation of the Near-Earth Asteroid Rendezvous (NEAR) spacecraft during its flyby of asteroid 433 Eros on December 23, 1998 involved coordinated efforts to determine the heliocentric orbits of the spacecraft and Eros and then to determine the relative trajectory of the spacecraft with respect ot Eros.

Asteroid Near-Earth Asteroid Rendezbous (NEAR) mas↗

Photometry of Asteroid (101955) Bennu with OVIRS on OSIRIS-REx

NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft arrived at its sampling target, asteroid (101955) Bennu, in December 2018 and started a series of global observation campaigns. Here we investigate the global photometric properties of Bennu as observed by the OSIRIS-REx Visible and InfraRed Spectrometer (OVIRS) over the time period December 9, 2018, to September 26, 2019. In this study we used observations obtained over wavelengths ranging from 0.4 to 3.7 μm, with a solar phase angle range of 5.3° to 132.6°. Our aim is to characterize the global average disk-resolved photometric properties of Bennu with multiple models. The best-fit model is a McEwen model with an exponential phase function and an exponential polynomial partition function. We use this model to correct the OVIRS spectra of Bennu to a standard reference viewing and illumination geometry at visible to infrared wavelengths for the purposes of global spectral mapping. We derive a bolometric Bond albedo map in which Bennu’s surface values range from 0.021 to 0.027. We find a phase reddening effect, and our model is effective at removing this phase reddening. Our average model albedo shows a blueish spectrum with a >10% absorption feature centered at 2.74 μm. Of all comparisons with previously visited asteroids and comets, only 28P/Neujmin, 2P/Encke, and (162173) Ryugu are darker than Bennu. We find that Bennu is a few percent brighter than Ryugu in the wavelengths respectively observed by the OSIRIS-REx and Hayabusa2 missions (from 0.48 to 0.86 μm). We also compare our spectroscopic photometry of Bennu with the OSIRIS-REx imaging photometry and with ground-based predictions.

Asteroid Bennu↗

Mascon distribution techniques for asteroids and comets

The mass-concentration model is an approach that has been used to model the gravitational fields of irregularly shaped bodies such as asteroids and comets. By this approach, the body is treated as a collection of point masses. The method is conceptually simple, easy to program, valid down to the surface, and capable of modeling arbitrary density heterogeneities. How the mass concentrations are distributed as well as how mass is assigned to these concentrations is, however, nontrivial. These aspects significantly affect the accuracy and efficiency of the gravitational model. In this paper, we frame the distribution process in terms of numerical integration applied to finite volume meshes. We describe a new method using unstructured, curvilinear, finite volume meshes to significantly improve the accuracy of the mass-concentration model. We then compare the accuracy and efficiency of several variations of our distribution technique to those from literature using Asteroid Eros and Bennu as example bodies. Our results show that the mascon model can be as accurate as the analytic polyhedral model at the surface using an equivalent number of computational elements—i.e., mascon to surface facets. We report the improvement in the model’s performance can be mainly attributed to the volume mesh topology while mesh curving can provide modest case-dependent improvements.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Options and uncertainties in planetary defense: Impulse-dependent response and the physical properties of asteroids

In this paper we discuss that though rare, asteroid impacts are inevitable, and with the current state of technology, kinetic impactors are the preferred but not the complete solution. If the time to impact is short, or the threatening body too large, nuclear deflection serves as a final option. This work is part of an integrated study by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) to better determine the relative efficacy of these complimentary approaches. In particular, we examine the important material properties that affect each approach, to improve critical characterization efforts, and reduce uncertainty in the limits of the impactor technology. Impact speeds for kinetic impactors on Near-Earth Object (NEO) intercept trajectories commonly range from 5 to 20 km/s, resulting in significant crater ejecta and a momentum enhancement above that carried by the impactor. This enhancement depends substantially on the strength and porosity of the asteroid, as well as the impact speed. Here simulations from different codes are presented, along with constraints from experimental measurements. The uncertainties due to ignorance of the strength and porosity of the impact point are significant in determining the limits of impactor sufficiency. The nuclear approach is considered within the context of current capabilities, posing no need to test, as extant and well-understood devices are sufficient for the largest known Potentially Hazardous Objects (PHOs). Results of x-ray sources with realistic spectra as well as blackbody spectra are given, along with some assessment on composition dependence.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Three-dimensional simulations of oblique asteroid impacts into water

Waves generated by impacts into oceans may represent the most significant danger from near-earth asteroids and comets. For impacts near populated shores, the crown splash and subsequent waves, accompanied by sediment lofting and high winds, are more damaging than storm surges from the strongest hurricanes. Asteroids less than 500 m in diameter, impacting deep water far from shores, produce waves that may be detectable over large distances, but are probably not significantly dangerous. Here, we present new three-dimensional simulations of oblique impacts into deep water, with trajectory angles ranging from 27° to 60° (where 90° is vertical). These simulations are performed with the Los Alamos Rage hydrocode, and include atmospheric effects including ablation and airbursts. These oblique impact simulations are specifically performed in order to help determine whether there are additional dangers from the obliquity of impact not covered by previous two-dimensional studies. Water surface elevation profiles, surface pressures, and depth-averaged mass fluxes within the water are prepared for use in propagation studies

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Incorporation of 16 O-rich anhydrous silicates in the protolith of highly hydrated asteroid Ryugu

The abundant phyllosilicate and carbonate minerals characterizing most of the returned particles from asteroid Ryugu suggest a history of extensive aqueous alteration on its parent body, similar to the rare mineralogically altered, but chemically primitive, CI (Ivuna-type) chondrite meteorites. Particle C0009 differs mineralogically from other Ryugu particles examined so far by containing anhydrous silicates at a level of ~0.5 vol%, and thus can help shed light on the unaltered original materials that constituted Ryugu’s protolith. In situ oxygen isotope measurements of the most Mg-rich olivine and pyroxene in C0009 reveal two populations of Δ 17 O: –25‰ to –15‰ and –8‰ to –3‰. The former and the latter populations correlate well with silicate morphologies similar to those seen in amoeboid olivine aggregates and chondrule phenocrysts, respectively, both of which are abundant in less aqueously altered carbonaceous chondrites. Here, this result also highlights the presence of olivine with Δ 17 O close to the solar value in either a CI chondrite or an asteroid with CI-chondrite characteristics, and provides strong evidence that amoeboid olivine aggregates and Mg-rich chondrules accreted into Ryugu’s protolith. Our data also raise the possibility that the protoliths of CI and other carbonaceous chondrites incorporated similar anhydrous silicates.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

THE EVOLUTION OF ASTEROIDS IN THE JUMPING-JUPITER MIGRATION MODEL

In this work, we investigate the evolution of a primordial belt of asteroids, represented by a large number of massless test particles, under the gravitational effect of migrating Jovian planets in the framework of the jumping-Jupiter model. We perform several simulations considering test particles distributed in the Main Belt, as well as in the Hilda and Trojan groups. The simulations start with Jupiter and Saturn locked in the mutual 3:2 mean motion resonance plus three Neptune-mass planets in a compact orbital configuration. Mutual planetary interactions during migration led one of the Neptunes to be ejected in less than 10 Myr of evolution, causing Jupiter to jump by about 0.3 AU in semimajor axis. This introduces a large-scale instability in the studied populations of small bodies. After the migration phase, the simulations are extended over 4 Gyr, and we compare the final orbital structure of the simulated test particles to the current Main Belt of asteroids with absolute magnitude H < 9.7. The results indicate that, in order to reproduce the present Main Belt, the primordial belt should have had a distribution peaked at ∼10° in inclination and at ∼0.1 in eccentricity. We discuss the implications of this for the Grand Tack model. The results also indicate that neither primordial Hildas, nor Trojans, survive the instability, confirming the idea that such populations must have been implanted from other sources. In particular, we address the possibility of implantation of Hildas and Trojans from the Main Belt population, but find that this contribution should be minor.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Chemistry in Retrieved Ryugu Asteroid Samples Revealed by Non-Invasive X-ray Microanalyses: Pink-Beam Fluorescence CT and Tender-Energy Absorption Spectroscopy

The Hayabusa2 space mission recently retrieved 5.4 g of material from asteroid Ryugu, providing the first direct access to pristine material from a carbonaceous asteroid. This study employs a novel combination of non-invasive synchrotron X-ray techniques to examine microscale chemistry (elemental distributions and element-specific chemical speciation and local structure) inside Ryugu grains without physically cutting the samples. Manganese primarily occurs in carbonate: Mn-bearing dolomite with minor earlier ankerite. Iron sulfides present as large single grains and as smaller particles in the finer-grained matrix are both predominantly pyrrhotite. At the 5 μm scale, Fe sulfides do not show the mineralogical heterogeneity seen in many carbonaceous meteorites but exhibit some heterogeneous localized oxidation. Iron is present often as intergrowths of oxide and sulfide, indicating incomplete replacement. Trace selenium substitutes for S in pyrrhotite. Copper is present as Fe-poor Cu sulfide. These results demonstrate multiple episodes of fluid alteration on the parent body, including partial oxidation, and help constrain the sequence or evolution of fluids and processes that resulted in the current grain-scale mineralogical composition of Ryugu materials.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

GRASPING THE NATURE OF POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS ASTEROIDS

Through their delivery of water and organics, near-Earth objects (NEOs) played an important role in the emergence of life on our planet. However, they also pose a hazard to the Earth, as asteroid impacts could significantly affect our civilization. Potentially hazardous asteroids (PHAs) are those that, in principle, could possibly impact the Earth within the next century, producing major damage. About 1600 PHAs are currently known, from an estimated population of 4700 ± 1450. However, a comprehensive characterization of the PHA physical properties is still missing. Here we present spectroscopic observations of 14 PHAs, which we have used to derive their taxonomy, meteorite analogs, and mineralogy. Combining our results with the literature, we investigated how PHAs are distributed as a function of their dynamical and physical properties. In general, the “carbonaceous” PHAs seem to be particularly threatening, because of their high porosity (limiting the effectiveness of the main deflection techniques that could be used in space) and low inclination and minimum orbit intersection distance (MOID) with the Earth (favoring more frequent close approaches). V-type PHAs also present low MOID values, which can produce frequent close approaches (as confirmed by the recent discovery of a limited space weathering on their surfaces). We also identified those specific objects that deserve particular attention because of their extreme rotational properties, internal strength, or possible cometary nature. For PHAs and NEOs in general, we identified a possible anti-correlation between the elongation and the rotational period, in the range of P{sub rot} ≈ 5–80 hr. This would be compatible with the behavior of gravity-dominated aggregates in rotational equilibrium. For periods ≳80–90 hr, such a trend stops, possibly under the influence of the YORP effect and collisions. However, the statistics is very low, and further observational and theoretical work is required to characterize such slow rotators.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DETECTION OF THE YORP EFFECT FOR SMALL ASTEROIDS IN THE KARIN CLUSTER

The Karin cluster is a young asteroid family thought to have formed only ≃5.75 Myr ago. The young age can be demonstrated by numerically integrating the orbits of Karin cluster members backward in time and showing the convergence of the perihelion and nodal longitudes (as well as other orbital elements). Previous work has pointed out that the convergence is not ideal if the backward integration only accounts for the gravitational perturbations from the solar system planets. It improves when the thermal radiation force known as the Yarkovsky effect is accounted for. This argument can be used to estimate the spin obliquities of the Karin cluster members. Here we take advantage of the fast growing membership of the Karin cluster and show that the obliquity distribution of diameter D≃1--2 km Karin asteroids is bimodal, as expected if the YORP effect acted to move obliquities toward extreme values (0° or 180°). The measured magnitude of the effect is consistent with the standard YORP model. The surface thermal conductivity is inferred to be 0.07–0.2 W m{sup −1} K{sup −1} (thermal inertia ≃300--500 J m{sup −2} K{sup −1} s{sup −1/2}). We find that the strength of the YORP effect is roughly ≃0.7 of the nominal strength obtained for a collection of random Gaussian spheroids. These results are consistent with a surface composed of rough, rocky regolith. The obliquity values predicted here for 480 members of the Karin cluster can be validated by the light-curve inversion method.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

NEOWISE REACTIVATION MISSION YEAR TWO: ASTEROID DIAMETERS AND ALBEDOS

The Near-Earth Object Wide-Field Infrared Survey Explorer (NEOWISE) mission continues to detect, track, and characterize minor planets. We present diameters and albedos calculated from observations taken during the second year since the spacecraft was reactivated in late 2013. These include 207 near-Earth asteroids (NEAs) and 8885 other asteroids. Of the NEAs, 84% NEAs did not have previously measured diameters and albedos by the NEOWISE mission. Comparison of sizes and albedos calculated from NEOWISE measurements with those measured by occultations, spacecraft, and radar-derived shapes shows accuracy consistent with previous NEOWISE publications. Diameters and albedos fall within ±∼20% and ±∼40%, 1-sigma, respectively, of those measured by these alternate techniques. NEOWISE continues to preferentially discover near-Earth objects which are large (>100 m), and have low albedos.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE OBSERVATIONS OF ACTIVE ASTEROID 324P/La SAGRA

Hubble Space Telescope observations of active asteroid 324P/La Sagra near perihelion show continued mass loss consistent with the sublimation of near-surface ice. Isophotes of the coma measured from a vantage point below the orbital plane are best matched by steady emission of particles having a nominal size of a ∼ 100 μ m. The inferred rate of mass loss, dM{sub d} / dt ∼ 0.2 kg s{sup −1}, can be supplied by sublimation of water ice in thermal equilibrium with sunlight from an area as small as 930 m{sup 2}, corresponding to about 0.2% of the nucleus surface. Observations taken from a vantage point only 0.°6 from the orbital plane of 324P set a limit to the velocity of ejection of dust in the direction perpendicular to the plane, V {sub ⊥} < 1 m s{sup −1}. Short-term photometric variations of the near-nucleus region, if related to rotation of the underlying nucleus, rule-out periods ≤3.8 hr and suggest that rotation probably does not play a central role in driving the observed mass loss. We estimate that, in the previous orbit, 324P lost about 4 × 10{sup 7} kg in dust particles, corresponding to 6 × 10{sup −5} of the mass of a 550 m spherical nucleus of assumed density ρ = 1000 kg m{sup −3}. If continued, mass loss at this rate would limit the lifetime of 324P to ∼1.6 × 10{sup 4} orbits (about 10{sup 5} years). To survive for the 100–400 Myr timescales corresponding to dynamical and collisional stability requires a duty cycle of 2 × 10{sup −4} ≤ f{sub d} ≤ 8 × 10{sup −4}. Unless its time in orbit is overestimated by many orders of magnitude, 324P is revealed as a briefly active member of a vast population of otherwise dormant ice-containing asteroids.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Anatomy of an Asteroid Breakup: The Case of P/2013 R3

We present an analysis of new and published data on P/2013 R3, the first asteroid detected while disintegrating. Thirteen discrete components are measured in the interval between UT 2013 October 01 and 2014 February 13. We determine a mean, pair-wise velocity dispersion among these components of Δv = 0.33 ± 0.03 m s{sup −1} and find that their separation times are staggered over an interval of ∼5 months. Dust enveloping the system has, in the first observations, a cross-section of ∼30 km{sup 2} but fades monotonically at a rate consistent with the action of radiation pressure sweeping. The individual components exhibit comet-like morphologies and also fade except where secondary fragmentation is accompanied by the release of additional dust. We find only upper limits to the radii of any embedded solid nuclei, typically ∼100–200 m (geometric albedo 0.05 assumed). Combined, the components of P/2013 R3 would form a single spherical body with a radius of ≲400 m, which is our best estimate of the size of the precursor object. The observations are consistent with rotational disruption of a weak (cohesive strength of ∼50 to 100 N m{sup −2}) parent body, ∼400 m in radius. Estimated radiation (YORP) spin-up times of this parent are ≲1 Myr, shorter than the collisional lifetime. If present, water ice sublimating at as little as 10{sup −3} kg s{sup −1} could generate a torque on the parent body rivaling the YORP torque. Under conservative assumptions about the frequency of similar disruptions, the inferred asteroid debris production rate is ≳10{sup 3} kg s{sup −1}, which is at least 4% of the rate needed to maintain the Zodiacal Cloud.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Goldstone Radar Observations of Horseshoe-orbiting Near-Earth Asteroid 2013 BS45, a Potential Mission Target

We report radar observations of near-Earth asteroid 2013 BS45 obtained during the 2013 apparition. This object is in a resonant, Earth-like orbit, and it is a backup target for NASA’s NEA Scout mission. 2013 BS45 belongs to the Arjuna orbital domain, which currently has ∼20 discovered representatives. These objects tend to be small and difficult to characterize, and 2013 BS45 is only the third Arjuna object observed with radar to date. We observed 2013 BS45 on three days at Goldstone (8560 MHz, 3.5 cm) between 2013 February 10 and 13. The closest approach occurred on February 12 at a distance of 0.0126 au. We obtained relatively weak echo power spectra and ranging data at resolutions up to 0.125 μs (18.75 m px{sup −1}). The Doppler broadening of the echo power spectra strongly suggests an upper bound on the rotation period of 1.9 minutes. The radar data, in combination with an assumption that the asteroid’s radar albedo is no higher than that of metallic NEA 1986 DA, constrain the equivalent diameter to 15 m ≤ D ≤ 38 m. The circular polarization ratio is 0.21 ± 0.06, which implies a near-surface that is relatively smooth on decimeter spatial scales. We bounded the OC radar albedo to η {sub OC} ≥ 0.09 and the optical albedo remains relatively unconstrained at 0.05 ≤ p {sub V} ≤ 0.35. The Yarkovsky acceleration has not been detected but, due to the object’s rapid rotation, would be dominated by a seasonal component whose direction and magnitude depends on the currently unknown pole orientation and thermal inertia.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Active Asteroid P/2017 S5 (ATLAS)

Observations of active asteroid P/2017 S5 when near perihelion reveal the ejection of large (10{sup 2}–10{sup 4} μm) particles at 0.2–2 m s{sup −1} speeds, with estimated mass-loss rates of a few kg s{sup −1}. The protracted nature of the mass loss (continuous over ∼150 days) is compatible with a sublimation origin, meaning that this object is likely an ice-bearing main-belt comet. Equilibrium sublimation of exposed water ice covering as little as 0.1 km{sup 2} can match the data. Observations a year after perihelion show the object in an inactive state from which we deduce a nucleus effective radius 450{sub −60}{sup +100} m (albedo 0.06 ± 0.02 assumed). The gravitational escape speed from a body of this size is just ∼0.3 m s{sup −1}, comparable to the inferred ejection speed of the dust. Time-series photometry provides tentative evidence for rapid rotation (lightcurve period 1.4 hr) that may also play a role in the loss of mass and which, if real, is a likely consequence of spin-up by sublimation torques. P/2017 S5 shares both physical and orbital similarities with the split active asteroid pair P/2016 J1-A and J1-B, and all three objects are likely members of the ∼7 Myr old, collisionally produced, Theobalda family.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗