Spatially Resolved Observations of Small Solar System Bodies

Details Spatially Resolved Observations of Small Solar System Bodies Spatially Resolved Observations of Small Solar System Bodies

Dec 2009

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009dps....41.6815d&link_type=abstract

American Astronomical Society, DPS meeting #41, #68.15

Physics

Optics

Scientific paper

We present recent results obtained using the suites of adaptive optics instruments NACO and SINFONI installed at the 8m Yepun telescope of the ESO-VLT. The combination of the high-angular resolution and high contrast capabilities of these instruments allowed us to carry out an unprecedented near-infrared spectro-imaging study of the surface properties of the Haumea triple trans-Neptunian system, the surface of the igneous main-belt asteroid Vesta, and of the B-type asteroid Pallas. The integral field spectrograph SINFONI was used along with the VLT laser guide star facility to separate Haumea from its two companions and provide high signal-to-noise H- and K- band spectra of the central TNO and its brightest satellite Hi'iaka, revealing that both surfaces are coated with crystalline water ice. SINFONI was also used to obtain disk-resolved spectroscopy of Vesta surface and map the spatial variation of the shape and depth of the pyroxene band. Although our surface coverage was only partial, we could investigate possible trends between spectral slopes and albedo values across Vesta. Finally, combining our NACO images of Pallas with some images obtained at the Keck Observatory, we could define a revised determination of the size, shape model and spin orientation for Pallas, as well as derive albedo maps covering nearly 80% of its surface.

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