Visible and Infrared Observations of Asteroid 2867 Steins, a target of the Rosetta Mission

Details Visible and Infrared Observations of Asteroid 2867 Steins, a target of the Rosetta Mission Visible and Infrared Observations of Asteroid 2867 Steins, a target of the Rosetta Mission

Sep 2006

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2006dps....38.5909l&link_type=abstract

American Astronomical Society, DPS meeting #38, #59.09; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 38, p.594

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astronomy

1

Scientific paper

We present the results of a coordinated campaign of visible and infrared observations aimed at fostering our knowledge of asteroid 2867 Steins in preparation of its flyby by the Rosetta spacecraft in Sept. 2008, on its way to comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. Our data set includes 16 visible light curves and 14 infrared spectra. Fifteen light curves were obtained with various ground-based observatories and an additional one, with the narrow angle camera (NAC) of the OSIRIS scientific camera aboard Rosetta that continuously monitored 2867 Steins over 24 hr in March 2006. Simultaneous inversion of the 16 light curves allows to generate a three-dimensional shape model of 2867 Steins with axial ratios a/b = 1.2 and b/c = 1.6, to determine its rotational period (6.0481 ± 0.0004 hr) and two possible solutions for the direction of its rotational axis. The infrared spectra were obtained with the low resolution mode of the Spitzer space telescope IRS; they extend from 5 to 35 microns and sample the rotational light curve with a temporal resolution of 30 min. Preliminary analysis using a standard thermal model yield an equivalent diameter of approximately 5 km and an albedo in the range 0.30 - 0.40. This classifies 2867 Steins as an E-type asteroid, a class of differentiated bodies which experienced significant heating episodes. The large beaming factor probably implies a thermal inertia in the range 150 - 300 SI but this will be further explored using more elaborated thermal models.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Visible and Infrared Observations of Asteroid 2867 Steins, a target of the Rosetta Mission 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 Visible and Infrared Observations of Asteroid 2867 Steins, a target of the Rosetta Mission, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Visible and Infrared Observations of Asteroid 2867 Steins, a target of the Rosetta Mission will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1077812