Search for asteroidal satellites using adaptive optics

Details Search for asteroidal satellites using adaptive optics Search for asteroidal satellites using adaptive optics

Jul 2000

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2000spie.4007..796c&link_type=abstract

Proc. SPIE Vol. 4007, p. 796-802, Adaptive Optical Systems Technology, Peter L. Wizinowich; Ed.

Computer Science

Scientific paper

We utilized AO to discover a moon around asteroid 45 Eugenia by use of the PUEO AO facility at CFHT. With PUEO we performed a search for asteroidal satellites among two dozen asteroids, achieving moderate Strehl ratios (35%) and FWHM of about 0.12' at H band. During this survey, we detected a faint close companion to 45 Eugenia. The satellite was 6.14 magnitudes (at 1.65 micrometer) fainter and located at most 0.75' from Eugenia. Without the ability of AO to sharpen the contrast and increase the resolution to 0.1', the detection of this companion would have been impossible with ground-based telescopes. The companion was found to be in a 1200 km circular orbit with a period of 4.7 days. We discovered that the bulk density of the large (215 km) asteroid 45 Eugenia is a surprisingly low 1.2 g/cm3. This has lead to the exciting possibilities that either this main belt asteroid is a burned out comet or has a hollow 'rubble-pile' structure.

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