The Color of Small Bodies: Mineralogy, Surface Properties, History and Future Prospects

Details The Color of Small Bodies: Mineralogy, Surface Properties, History and Future Prospects The Color of Small Bodies: Mineralogy, Surface Properties, History and Future Prospects

Dec 2002

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2002agufm.p51c..05m&link_type=abstract

American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2002, abstract #P51C-05

Physics

Optics

6008 Composition, 6055 Surfaces And Interiors, 6061 Remote Sensing, 6094 Instruments And Techniques

Scientific paper

The technique of spectral reflectance was first applied to the brightest asteroids in 1970. Spectral reflectance of 4 Vesta demonstrated the technique's usefulness for identifying mineralogy of asteroid surfaces. A survey of asteroids was made using 25 interference filters spanning 0.33-1.0 μm. Spectral characteristics were grouped. Concurrently, laboratory measurements of minerals, rocks and meteorites were acquired and mineralogical interpretation of asteroid surfaces was made. Telescope apertures increased, IR detectors and thin film filters became available and spectrometers extending into the near-infrared were developed. With increasing knowledge of absorption and spectral features came more detailed knowledge of the surface composition of asteroids. New technology of the 1980's brought us the 52-color asteroid survey. The availability of CCD's enabled studies of smaller, fainter asteroids in the visible and resulted in good characterization of narrower and shallower absorption bands that are often the only bands found on dark asteroid surfaces. The 8-color asteroid filters were selected to measure fainter asteroids. This approach was based on color differences and permitted asteroid surveys to sample a larger population. With time, specific regions of the asteroid belt have been studied. Hildas, Trojans, asteroids near resonances, e.g. the 3:1 Kirkwood gap, and asteroid families. Most recently colors and reflectance spectra of TNO's and Centaurs are available. Similarities and differences between asteroids and other small bodies in the solar system permit us to derive information about the surface processes and compositional variation providing clues to the formation and processes in the early Solar System. As we understand the limits of this technique, we go to different spectral regions where different physical processes are active. Combining remote sensing techniques can provide constraints on compositional interpretations that are ambiguous when based upon reflected light alone. Results from multiple instruments on NEAR, contrains the composition and physical properties of surface material. Using the most recent advances in ground-based telescope technology, adaptive optics, we prepare for the next asteroid orbital mission, Dawn which will visit Vesta and Ceres in 2010 and 2014 respectively.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

The Color of Small Bodies: Mineralogy, Surface Properties, History and Future Prospects 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 The Color of Small Bodies: Mineralogy, Surface Properties, History and Future Prospects, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and The Color of Small Bodies: Mineralogy, Surface Properties, History and Future Prospects will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1892154