Physical Modeling of Triple Near-Earth Asteroid 153591 (2001 SN263)

Details Physical Modeling of Triple Near-Earth Asteroid 153591 (2001 SN263) Physical Modeling of Triple Near-Earth Asteroid 153591 (2001 SN263)

Sep 2008

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2008dps....40.2806b&link_type=abstract

American Astronomical Society, DPS meeting #40, #28.06; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 40, p.437

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astronomy

1

Scientific paper

In February 2008, radar images taken at the Arecibo Observatory revealed the first near-Earth triple asteroid system, 2001 SN263. For nine days we obtained delay-Doppler images at 75 m resolution and during close approach it was less than .07 AU from the Earth. It is the first triple asteroid system discovered close enough to be imaged using radar and remains the only known triple NEA system.
In order to obtain a better understanding of 2001 SN263, models of the asteroid have been created using a program known as "Shape", designed by Hudson (1993). For 2001 SN263, light-curve data was used in conjunction with the delay-Doppler images in order to produce such models (Pravec personal communication). Plausible models are generated by using estimates of the diameter, the rotation rate, and the orbit of the object.
Based on the shape of the asteroid, it will be possible to constrain the volume of the object and achieve a better estimation of its density. The model may provide a better understanding of the stability of NEAs which have companions. Furthermore, it may give insight into the effects of these satellites on the primary.
Preliminary analysis of 2001 SN263 has provided information about the asteroid's size and the orbits of its satellites. The primary appears to be a spheroid, with principal axes of 2.8±.1 km, 2.7±.1 km, and 2.5±.2 km. The "Shape” calculated volume is 8.5±2.5 km³, which yields a density of 1.3±0.6 g/cm³. Further analysis of the triple asteroid system will produce more details about 2001 SN263 as well as a "Shape" model which are to be presented.
The Arecibo Observatory is operated by Cornell University under a cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation. This research was funded in part by the National Science Foundation's REU program.

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