Radar imaging of near-Earth asteroid 11066 Sigurd

Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy

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Arecibo delay-Doppler (2380 MHz, 13 cm) radar images of Sigurd obtained during 2004 September 18-22 reveal an elongated, contact binary shape with a maximum visible range extent of at least 3.5 km. The lobes are generally rounded, have comparable dimensions, and are connected by a narrow neck. When oriented broadside on September 18, 20, and 21, a valley with a depth of 400 m is visible between the lobes. Images obtained on September 20 and 21 also show a prominent facet that is at least 1 km long. Echo bandwidths vary by a factor of about 2.5 as the asteroid rotates and establish that Sigurd is among the most elongated NEAs imaged by radar. Among the handful of near-Earth asteroids imaged by radar that appear to have contact binary shapes, Sigurd is the largest. The images are consistent with the 8.5-h rotation period derived photometrically by Pravec et al. (1998, Icarus 136, 124-153) and Krugly et al. (2002, Icarus 158, 294-304). The images cover about three-fourths of a rotation, sufficient for least-squares estimation of Sigurd's three-dimensional shape.

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