Visible to Thermal-Infrared Spectrophotometry of a Possible Inactive Cometary Nucleus

Physics

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

9

Scientific paper

(20461) 1999 LD31 is one of the few objects with retrograde orbits listed in the Minor Planet Catalog and thus designated as asteroids rather than comets. Observations of (20461) 1999 LD31 made in March 2000 with the 10-m Keck I telescope indicate an optical albedo, pv, of 0.03+/-0.01 and a diameter of 14+/-3 km. The low albedo and results of spectrophotometry carried out with the University of Hawaii 2.2-m and the UK Infrared 3.8-m telescopes are indicative of a D-type asteroid or cometary nucleus. These results, together with the nature of its orbit, suggest that (20461) 1999 LD31 is an example of an object originating in the outer Solar System that has evolved into an orbit characteristic of a Halley-type comet and may be the nucleus of an extinct or dormant comet.

No associations

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for scientists and scientific papers. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

Visible to Thermal-Infrared Spectrophotometry of a Possible Inactive Cometary Nucleus does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Visible to Thermal-Infrared Spectrophotometry of a Possible Inactive Cometary Nucleus, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Visible to Thermal-Infrared Spectrophotometry of a Possible Inactive Cometary Nucleus will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1002023

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.