Lightcurve Studies of Small Asteroids

Details Lightcurve Studies of Small Asteroids Lightcurve Studies of Small Asteroids

Oct 2007

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2007dps....39.1303w&link_type=abstract

American Astronomical Society, DPS meeting #39, #13.03; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 39, p.432

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astronomy

Scientific paper

The concentrated program on asteroid lightcurves at the Palmer Divide Observatory has produced more than 300 published results, with more in progress. The Hungaria asteroids have received particular attention the past three years, with 81 lightcurves published. The Hungarias provide a unique opportunity to compare the characteristics of small non planet-crossing inner main-belt asteroids against those of the NEA population. The results so far indicate a similarity in the distribution of rotation rates, with an excess of both slow and fast rotators, as well as binary population (5 Hungaria binaries have been discovered at PDO). This suggests that both spin rate evolution and binary formation are not closely related to tidal interactions with major planets, but instead are likely the result of processes present in both main-belt and planet-crossing populations. YORP radiation torque is the obvious cause, leading to a broad distribution of spin rates with some clustering toward the slowest and fastest possible rates. We find no asteroids larger than 1 km diameter spinning faster than the "spin rate barrier", in contrast to the claim of Dermawan et al. (BAAS 34, 860, 2002), although to be sure there is not much overlap in sizes of bodies observed. A re-analysis of the Dermawan lightcurves casts serious doubt on the reality of the claimed fast rotators in his sample.
Work at the Palmer Divide Observatory is funded by NSF grant AST-0607505 and NASA grants NNX 06AB30G and NNG 06GI32G.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Lightcurve Studies of Small Asteroids 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 Lightcurve Studies of Small Asteroids, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Lightcurve Studies of Small Asteroids will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1065143