Compositional Investigation of Trojan Asteroids using Space- and Ground-Based Observations

Details Compositional Investigation of Trojan Asteroids using Space- and Ground-Based Observations Compositional Investigation of Trojan Asteroids using Space- and Ground-Based Observations

Sep 2008

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2008dps....40.2825s&link_type=abstract

American Astronomical Society, DPS meeting #40, #28.25; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 40, p.441

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The Trojan asteroids provide key clues about the evolution of our, and feasibly other, planetary systems. Despite their importance, a scarcity of data is available, leading to rough estimates of radii, rotational period, and albedo. Previously obtained spectra using the Infrared Telescope Facility at Mauna Kea Observatory have all proven to be featureless in the shorter wavelength visible and near infrared (0.4 - 2.5 microns) region, thus limiting our ability to make composition conclusions. For this reason we have studied 17 asteroids residing in the fourth and fifth Lagrangian points of Jupiter using the Infrared Array Camera on the Spitzer Space Telescope at four wavelength bands: 3.6, 4.5, 5.8, 8.0 microns. Two observations of each object were taken and strategically subtracted in order to remove the background flux. The emitted thermal flux from the 8.0 micron channel was used to calibrate and color-correct the reflectance flux of the 3.6 and 4.5 micron channels. For each object new radii and visible geometric albedos have been calculated. Channel specific albedos from the 3.6 and 4.5 micron channels were also calculated and combined with short wavelength visible and NIR spectra for compositional analysis. Specifically, we are searching for absorptions at wavelengths greater than 2.5 microns attributable to water ice, hydrated silicates, and/or macromolecular organic material. For additional perspective, new light curves have been obtained for several objects from the 1 and 3 meter telescopes at Lick Observatory since 2004, improving period estimates and enabling us to compare data within rotation context/ phase for each asteroid. We shall present all relevant data, analysis, and conclusions regarding the Trojan asteroids' history as well as implications at large for the solar system formation and evolution.

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