The Spitzer First Look Survey-Ecliptic Plane Component: Asteroids and Zodiacal Background

Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

11

Interplanetary Medium, Minor Planets, Asteroids

Scientific paper

The Spitzer First Look Survey (FLS) provided an initial characterization of the infrared sky at Spitzer wavelengths and sensitivities. The ecliptic plane component (EPC) of the FLS concentrated on two 0.13 deg2 fields at a solar elongation of 115° and ecliptic latitudes (β) of 0° and +5°. The FLS-EPC explored the small asteroid counts at 8 and 24 μm, with a detection limit down to ~0.08 and 0.8 mJy, respectively, and a completeness limit almost twice as deep as the 8 μm equivalent flux density of the previous deepest mid-IR survey. The FLS-EPC also provided initial characterization of the zodiacal light near the ecliptic plane. Fifteen known and 19 unknown asteroids were identified, and asteroids detected at both wavelengths displayed similar 8 to 24 μm flux ratios of ~0.1. Comparing number counts for the β=0deg and +5° fields indicates a slower-than-anticipated drop-off in contrast to predicted scale heights, possibly due to the presence of higher inclination objects in the small population sampled by Spitzer. The measured zodiacal light background was found to be within 5% of Spitzer model predictions at 24 μm.

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

The Spitzer First Look Survey-Ecliptic Plane Component: Asteroids and Zodiacal Background 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 The Spitzer First Look Survey-Ecliptic Plane Component: Asteroids and Zodiacal Background, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and The Spitzer First Look Survey-Ecliptic Plane Component: Asteroids and Zodiacal Background will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1062076

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