E-ELT: Expected Applications to Asteroid Observations in the Thermal Infrared

Details E-ELT: Expected Applications to Asteroid Observations in the Thermal Infrared E-ELT: Expected Applications to Asteroid Observations in the Thermal Infrared

Sep 2009

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009em%26p..105..235d&link_type=abstract

Earth, Moon, and Planets, Volume 105, Issue 2-4, pp. 235-247

Physics

Optics

Asteroids, Thermal Infrared, Observations

Scientific paper

Applications of the 42m European Extremely Large Telescope (E-ELT) for the physical characterization of asteroids is presented. In particular, this work focuses on the determination of sizes and other physical properties of asteroids from measurements of their heat emission in the thermal infrared (>5 μm). Here we show that E-ELT will be best suited for the physical characterization of some selected asteroids of particular interest, as for instance: (i) targets of sample return missions to near-Earth Asteroids (NEAs); (ii) km and sub-km binary asteroids for which size information will allow their bulk density to be derived; (iii) sizes and values of the thermal inertia of potentially hazardous asteroids (PHAs). These two parameters both affect the Yarkovsky effect, which plays a role in the orbital evolution of km sized asteroids and represents a large source of uncertainty in the Earth impact probability prediction of some PHAs. Thermal inertia is also a sensitive indicator for the presence or absence of thermal insulating regolith on the surface of atmosphere-less bodies. Knowledge of this parameter is thus important for the design and the development of lander- and sample return-missions to asteroids. The E-ELT will also be able to spatially resolve asteroids and detect binaries in a range of sizes that are at present not accessible to present day adaptive optics.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

E-ELT: Expected Applications to Asteroid Observations in the Thermal Infrared 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 E-ELT: Expected Applications to Asteroid Observations in the Thermal Infrared, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and E-ELT: Expected Applications to Asteroid Observations in the Thermal Infrared will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1185223