Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Dec 1999
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1999baas...31.1585w&link_type=abstract
American Astronomical Society, DPS Meeting #31, late abstracts, #59.11; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 31,
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
Scientific paper
Optical and near-infrared studies of asteroids are based on reflected sunlight and surface albedo variations create broad spectral features, suggestive of families of materials. There is a significant literature on these features, but there is very little work in the thermal infrared that directly probes the materials emitting on the surfaces of asteroids. To remedy this paucity of mid-infrared spectra we have searched the original Dutch (Groningen) archive of 171,000 7.7-22.7 micron spectra from the IRAS Low Resolution Spectrometer (LRS), for point sources brighter than 1.5 Jy at 12 or 25 microns. Our pilot study based on 4000 numbered asteroids has already found several hundred valid spectra of about 100 different asteroids. We anticipate finding a few thousand relevant spectra from a complete study applied to all currently numbered asteroids. We present the results of analysis of our pilot study. The process was to extract and recalibrate the LRS spectra; divide the spectra by the best-fitting thermal continua calculated from Standard Thermal Models and/or Thermophysical Models to enhance any spectral features (emission or absorption), group the asteroid spectra initially by optical taxonomic class, co-add the spectra by class, and search for any patterns of mid-infrared spectral features. We discuss recognizable spectral features that appear to be diagnostic of at least families of minerals, and investigate the prospects for an infrared thermal taxonomic classification of asteroids.
Cohen Martin
Walker Russell G.
No associations
LandOfFree
IRAS LRS Spectra of 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 IRAS LRS Spectra of Asteroids, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and IRAS LRS Spectra of Asteroids will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1724754