NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2011B-0591
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NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2011B-0591 |
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PI: William J. Merline, Southwest Research Institute, merline@boulder.swri.edu
Address: Space Science and Instrumentation Division, 1050 Walnut St., Ste. 300, Boulder, CO 80302, USA
CoI: Peter M. Tamblyn, Southwest Research Institute
CoI: Benoit Carry, European Space Astronomy Centre
CoI: Jack Drummond, AFRL, Starfire Optical Range
CoI: Al Conrad, Max Planck Institute, Germany
CoI: Clark R. Chapman, Southwest Research Institute
CoI: Julian Christou, Gemini Observatory
CoI: Christophe Dumas, ESO, Chile
CoI: Chris Neyman, W.M Keck Observatory
Title: High-Resolution AO Imaging of Asteroids/Satellites
Abstract:
We propose to make high-resolution observations of asteroids using
NGS AO, to measure size, shape, and pole position, and to search for
satellites. We have demonstrated that AO imaging allows determination
of the pole/dimensions in 1 or 2 nights, rather than the years of
observations with lightcurve inversion techniques that only yield poles
and axial ratios, not true dimensions. Accurately determining the
volume from the often-irregular shape allows us to derive densities to
greater precision in cases where the mass is known. We just derived a
density for (21) Lutetia, prior to the Rosetta flyby, but due to a
highly inclined pole, the short (c-) dimension could not be well
determined by either us or Rosetta. But we can make the observations
this semester to remedy this and get a good density (mass from flyby
plus our size/shape). We will also continue our search for satellites
around asteroids, particularly for NEOs (we recently accomplished the
first-ever optical imaging of an NEO binary [Merline et al. 2008b, IAUC
8977]). Satellites allow an accurate mass to be determined, and also
provide a real-life lab for testing collisional models. We will also
make deep/close searches for satellites with the NICI imager (which we
have now tested), particularly of Ceres, contributing to DAWN mission
planning, as we have done for Rosetta.
National Optical Astronomy Observatory, 950 North Cherry Avenue, P.O. Box 26732, Tucson, Arizona 85726, Phone: (520) 318-8000, Fax: (520) 318-8360
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NOAO > Observing Info > Approved Programs > 2011B-0591 |
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