Pushing AO to Smaller Asteroids

Details Pushing AO to Smaller Asteroids Pushing AO to Smaller Asteroids

Aug 2008

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2008noao.prop..394d&link_type=abstract

NOAO Proposal ID #2008B-0394

Physics

Scientific paper

We have demonstrated that AO imaging can determine the pole and dimensions in 1 or 2 nights on a single target, rather than the years of observations with typical lightcurve inversion techniques that only yield poles and axial ratios, not true dimensions. Now we propose to use NGS AO to measure the triaxial dimensions, shapes, and pole directions (spin vectors) for 6 smaller asteroids that are favorably placed around Dec 1, 2008. Accurately determining the volume from the triaxial dimensions allows us to contribute to calculating densities to much greater precision than currently known. Our work requires observations spanning most of a full rotation period for these 6 objects, which are typically several hours (one has a 27 hr period), and all can be phased sufficiently over two nights. Our primary goal is full rotational coverage in a single filter (K, or H if conditions dictate). Secondary goals, if time and conditions permit, are searching for color variations on the parent asteroids with additional filters and satellite detections/searches with longer exposures. Just 3 days before this proposal deadline, we discovered a satellite this way. See next section. We request two nights on Keck so that in addition to our basic goal of following the asteroids' rotation to find sizes and poles, we can also attempt to implement our secondary goals of multicolor observations and/or satellite searches. If not granted Keck time, then queue observing on Geminii would satisfy our basic goal.

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