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At least 127 records · Page 7
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1991

Visible and infrared investigations of planet-crossing asteroids and outer solar system objects

A major effort was directed toward 951 Gaspra in preparation for the Galileo encounter in October 1991. Most of the observational work involved photometry, for purposes of investigating the rotational state and phase function of the asteroid to help plan the encounter, and for purposes of navigating the spacecraft to the object. Work was also done with radiometric data obtained with the IRTF at NASA's request, for which simultaneous visible photometry was acquired with the University of Hawaii 2.24-m telescope. The results from the observations made during the 1990 opposition were published by Goldader et al. The main results reported include a rotational period of 7.04246 hours, an absolute visual magnitude of 11.8026, a slope parameter of 0.285, an early estimate of a high obliquity, an infrared spectrum indicating an olivine-rich composition, and 13 astrometric positions.

Tholen, David J.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Minor planets and related objects. XXVII - Lightcurves of 887 Alinda

Eleven light curves and UBV photometry of the Amor asteroid Alinda, a candidate for having a cometary origin, are analyzed. A probable rotation period of 73 h 58 m + or - 3 m (p.e.) is derived on the assumption of two maxima and two minima per cycle in a composite light curve. An absolute V magnitude of 14.10 + or - 0.08 and a phase coefficient of 0.042 + or - 0.003 mag/deg in V are obtained, along with a B-V color of 0.86 + or - 0.02 and a U-B color of 0.50 + or - 0.05, both extrapolated to zero phase. The rotation period is shown to be the longest yet observed for an asteroid. It is concluded that the colors of Alinda are not unusual for an asteroid, that Alinda is probably not an extinct cometary nucleus, that the slow rotation may be a consequence of one or more collisions, and that the pole of Alinda may be nearly perpendicular to the ecliptic.

Dunlap, J. L.↗
NASA NTRS2000

Radar Observations of Asteroid 10115 (1992 SK)

The approach of 1992 SK to within 0.056 AU of Earth on 1999 March 26 provided an excellent opportunity for radar observations. We observed it daily between March 22-26 at Goldstone at a transmitter frequency of 8560 MHz (3.50 cm). Weighted, optimally smoothed sums of cw (Doppler-only) echoes achieve a signal-to-noise ratio of about 300. Our highest resolution cw setup places up to approx. 30 0.5-Hz Doppler cells on the target at echo powers exceeding two standard deviations of the noise. Our highest resolution imaging setup places about 20 0.25-us (37.5 m) x 2.0 Hz pixels on 1992 SK at echo powers above the same threshold. We completed nearly 300 runs with each setup and obtained thorough rotational phase coverage (period = 7.320 h, P. Pravec, pers. comm.). The dispersion of the echoes in time delay indicates a lower bound on 1992 SK's maximum pole-on breadth of approx. 0.4 km that is consistent with the echo bandwidth and rotation period. Variations in the cw spectral bandwidths and shapes and in the delay-Doppler images as a function of rotation phase are evident on each day, are consistent in bandwidth with each other and with the rotation period, and indicate that the asteroid is asymmetric and modesty elongated.

Benner, L. A. M.↗
NASA NTRS1993

IMPS albedo and diameter for Asteroid 243 Ida

243 Ida is the second asteroid target of the Galileo mission. The Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) detected Ida several times during its 1983 sky survey. The IRAS Minor Planet Survey (IMPS) yields a total of 13 usable observations during 6 sightings of Ida. These data result in a geometric visual albedo of 0.24 and a mean diameter of 28 km for Ida. The IMPS catalog updates and extends the IRAS Asteroid and Comet Survey through asteroid number 4679. File versions of IMPS final products will be available from the National Space Science Data Center (NSSDC). The input for IMPS processing includes updated visual absolute magnitudes and orbital elements for each asteroid. H and G are 9.94 and 0.15 for Ida. IMPS also includes a correction for low flux densities (less than approximately 1 Jansky). In the case of Ida, 3 observations at 12 microns, 6 at 25 microns, and 4 at 60 microns were considered acceptable for analysis. Most of these do have flux densities less than 1 Jansky with a value of approximately 5 for their estimated SNR. The 25 microns observations as plotted in the figure are consistent with the variation expected for the cross section of Ida with rotation. Ida is a main belt asteroid with an S taxonomic classification. The spectra of S asteroids tend to be dominated by pyroxene with visual albedos from 0.1 to 0.3. The IMPS average albedo of 0.24 (plus or minus 0.07) for 243 Ida is in the upper range observed for S asteroids.

Veeder, G. J.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Spin vectors of asteroids 21 Lutetia, 196 Philomela, 250 Bettina, 337 Devosa, and 804 Hispania

Such parameters as shape, orientation of spin axis, prograde or retrograde rotation are important for understanding the collisional evolution of asteroids since the primordial epochs of solar system history. These parameters remain unknown for most asteroids and poorly constrained for all but a few. This work presents results for five asteroids: 21, 196, 250, 337, and 804.

Michalowski, Tadeusz↗
NASA NTRS1988

Table mountain observatory support to other programs

The Table Mountain Observatory (TMO) facilities include well equipped 24 inch and 16 inch telescopes with a 40 inch telescope (owned by Pomona College) due for completion during FY 89. This proposal is to provide operational support (equipment maintenance, setup, and observing assistnce) at TMO to other programs. The program currently most heavily supported by this grant is the asteroid photometry program directed by A. W. Harris. During 1987, about 20 asteroids were observed, including a near-earth asteroid, 1951 Midas. The photometric observations are used to derive rotation periods, estimate shapes and pole orientations, and to define the phase relations of asteroids. The E class asteroid 64 Angelina was observed, and showed the same opposition spike observed of 44 Jysa, last year. Comet observations are made with the narrow band camera system of David Rees, University College London. Observational support and training was provided to students and faculty from Claremont Colleges for variable star observing programs. Researchers propose to continue the asteroid program, with emphasis on measuring phase relations of low and high albedo asteroids at very low phase angles, and supporting collaborative studies of asteroid shapes.

Harris, Alan W.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Asteroid lightcurve studies

The use of light curves to characterize the dynamics of asteroids is discussed in a review of recent statistical and theoretical investigations. The summary, detailed, and bibliographic lists comprising the IAU light-curve data set are briefly characterized, and studies of rotation rates, shapes and pole positions, and phase relations are surveyed. Rotation-rate differences among the taxonomic classes and with asteroid size are noted, along with a wide dispersion of rotation rates in objects smaller than about 100 km.

Harris, A. W.↗
NASA NTRS1981

How fast can an asteroid spin

Many large asteroids are probably gravitationally bound 'rubble piles', which should approximate figures of hydrostatic equilibrium. The maximum angular velocity of such bodies is limited by formation of Jacobi ellipsoids or binary fission at about half the surface orbit frequency. The observed limiting rotation period of approximately 4 hr implies asteroidal densities of about 2-3 g/cu cm.

Weidenschilling, S. J.↗
NASA NTRS2015

New Lightcurves of 1027 Aesculapia and 3395 Jitka

We present new measurements for the rotation periods of two near Earth asteroids: 1027 Aesculapia and 3395 Jitka, the latter of which has been measured for the first time. Our measured period for 1027 Aesculapia is 9.79 +/- 0.01 h and amplitude of 0.09 mag, which is inconsistent with the previously published measurement of 6.83 +/- 0.10 h. The origin of this discrepancy is uncertain. We measure the period of 3395 Jitka to be 9.12 +/- 0.02 h with an amplitude of A= 0.42 mag.

Ehlert, Steven↗
NASA NTRS2000

The YORP Effect and the Spin of Small Asteroids

The YORP effect is the spinning up or down small bodies via the absorption of sunlight and its re-emission as infrared radiation. YORP may be competitive with collisions and tidal encounters for changing the rotation states of kilometer-sized and smaller asteroids.

Rubincam, D. P.↗
NASA NTRS1983

A photoelectric lightcurve survey of small main belt asteroids

A survey to obtain photoelectric lightcurves of small main-belt asteroids was conducted from November 1981 to April 1982 using the 0.91- and 2.1-m telescopes at the University of Texas McDonald Observatory. A total of 18 main-belt asteroids having estimated dimaters under 30 km were observed with over half of these being smaller than 15 km. Rotational periods were determined or estimated from multiple nights of observation for nearly all of these yielding a sample of 17 small main-belt asteroids which is believed to be free of observational selection effects. All but two of these objects were investigated for very short periods in the range of 1 min to 2 hr using power spectrum analysis of a continuous set of integrations. No evidence for such short periods was seen in this sample. Rotationally averaged B(1,0) magnitudes were determined for most of the surveyed asteroids, allowing diameter estimates to be made. Imposing the suspected selection effects of photogaphic photometry on the results of this survey gives excellent agreement with the results from that technique. This shows that the inability of photographic photometry to obtain results for many asteroids is indeed due to the rotational parameter of those asteroids.

Binzel, R. P.↗
NASA NTRS1992

The shape of asteroid 1917 Cuyo

Lightcurves obtained for 1917 Cuyo at solar phase angles near 54 degrees have an amplitude delta m = 0.44 mag. However, convex-profile inversion of the lightcurves yields an estimate of the asteroid's mean cross section (C, a 2-D average of the 3-D shape) that is only slightly noncircular, with an elongation approximately 1.15. The estimate of C undoubtedly contains systematic errors, the most severe of which could arise from non-equatorial viewing/illumination geometry. However, Cuyo's radar echo shows very little variation in bandwidth vs. rotation phase, supporting the hypothesis that this asteroid's elongation is rather modest.

Ostro, Steven J.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Physical studies of Apollo-Amor asteroids - UBVRI photometry of 1036 Ganymed and 1627 Ivar

The 1036 Ganymed and 1627 Ivar photoelectric lightcurves presently discussed indicate in the former case a drastic lightcurve shape change, in conjunction with a significant increase of the synodic rotation period; a substantial change in viewing conditions during the apparition, and a complex interaction between these changes and the asteroid's irregular shape, are indicated by the change. In the latter asteroid's case, a prograde rotation rate is apparent in the observed decrease in synodic period. Both asteroids' phase curves exhibit deviations from the H-G magnitude system phase function at large phase angles.

Hahn, G.↗
NASA NTRS1982

The rotation of comet nuclei

Spin-vector research on cometary nuclei is reviewed with emphasis on the actual determination of rotation period and spin-axis orientation. The rotation periods of 47 comets are compared with those of 41 asteroids with diameters of not more than 40 km. It is shown that the median periods for the comets is 15.0 hr as compared with 6.8 hr for the asteroids and that the preliminary distribution curve for the logarithms of the comet periods is not Gaussian and is flatter than the corresponding curve for the asteroids. Slow accumulation at low relative velocities is suggested as the cause of the longer comet rotation periods.

Whipple, F. L.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Planetary geology: Impact processes on asteroids

The fundamental geological and geophysical properties of asteroids were studied by theoretical and simulation studies of their collisional evolution. Numerical simulations incorporating realistic physical models were developed to study the collisional evolution of hypothetical asteroid populations over the age of the solar system. Ideas and models are constrained by the observed distributions of sizes, shapes, and spin rates in the asteroid belt, by properties of Hirayama families, and by experimental studies of cratering and collisional phenomena. It is suggested that many asteroids are gravitationally-bound "rubble piles.' Those that rotate rapidly may have nonspherical quasi-equilibrium shapes, such as ellipsoids or binaries. Through comparison of models with astronomical data, physical properties of these asteroids (including bulk density) are determined, and physical processes that have operated in the solar system in primordial and subsequent epochs are studied.

Chapman, C. R.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Radar observations of asteroid 1580 Betulia

Radar observations of the asteroid 1580 Betulia, made at a wavelength of 12.6 cm, show a mean radar cross section of 2.2 + or- 0.8 sq km and a total spectral bandwidth of 26.5 + or- 1.5 Hz. Combining bandwidth measurements with the optically determined rotation period sets a lower limit to the asteroid's radius of 2.9 + or- 0.2 km.

Pettengill, G. H.↗
DOE OSTI2023

A Planetary Defense System For Responsive Space Missions

As King et al succinctly write, “Collision between the Earth and small objects in the solar system are known to occur regularly, and can result in extinction-level events at their most energetic or more commonly widespread loss of life or economic destruction even for relatively low-energy impacts.” Currently, the JPL Sentry System and the NASA NEO Surveyor mission track, identify, and monitor potential asteroid threats. The JPL Sentry System4 is an automated collision monitoring system which scans the current asteroid catalog for potential impact trajectories with Earth. A 2017 study led by P. Tricarico titled “The near-Earth asteroid population from two decades of observations” analyzes the combined observations of nine leading asteroid surveys. The NASA NEO Surveyor mission seeks to identify 90% of near-Earth objects (NEO) with diameters greater than 140 meters (460 feet) within 10 years. The NEO Surveyor combines data from two infrared imaging detectors to measure NEO size, composition, shape, rotational state, and orbits. Recently, the NASA Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission successfully altered the orbit of asteroid moon Dimorphos in 2022. This demonstrated that orbit alteration is possible. Thus, collisions between the Earth and asteroids are both likely and demonstrate potential for great harm. There is ongoing work to identify, catalog, and track potential threats. However, when a threat is identified there is not yet a system in place to target the threatening asteroid and defend the planet from potentially existential threats. Building on the DART Mission, we explore a planetary defense system to mitigate asteroid threats.

42 ENGINEERING↗