Physical Modeling of Triple Near-Earth Asteroid 153591 (2001 SN263)

Details Physical Modeling of Triple Near-Earth Asteroid 153591 (2001 SN263) Physical Modeling of Triple Near-Earth Asteroid 153591 (2001 SN263)

Jan 2009

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009aas...21340110b&link_type=abstract

American Astronomical Society, AAS Meeting #213, #401.10; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 41, p.190

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astronomy

Scientific paper

In February 2008, radar images taken at the Arecibo Observatory revealed the first near-Earth triple asteroid system, 2001 SN263. For nine days we obtained delay-Doppler images at 75 m resolution to learn more about the primary asteroid and its two satellites. It is the first triple asteroid system discovered close enough to be imaged using radar and remains the only known triple NEA system.
To obtain a better understanding of 2001 SN263, models of the asteroid have been created using a program known as "Shape", designed by Hudson (1993). For 2001 SN263, light-curve data was used in conjunction with the delay-Doppler images to produce the models (Pravec personal communication). By including estimates of the diameter, the rotation rate, and the orbit of the object, in addition to the ephemeris files and some constraining parameters, "Shape” generates plausible three-dimensional models of the asteroid.
Using the information acquired based on the shape of the asteroid, we were able to constrain the volume of the object and achieve a better estimation of its density. The model may provide a better understanding of the stability of near-Earth asteroids which have companions. Furthermore, it may give insight into the effects of these satellites on the primary.
Preliminary analysis of 2001 SN263 has provided information about the asteroid's size and the orbits of its satellites. The primary appears to be a spheroid, with principal axes of 2.8±.1 km, 2.7±.1 km, and 2.5±.2 km. The "Shape” calculated volume is 8.5±2.5 km3, which yields a density of 1.3±0.6 g/cm3;. Further analysis will produce more details about 2001SN263 which is to be presented, as well as a "Shape” model.
The Arecibo Observatory is operated by Cornell University under a cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation. This research was funded in part by the National Science Foundation's REU program.

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