Mineralogical Characterization and Phase Angle Study of Two Binary Near-Earth Asteroids, Potential Targets for NASA’s Janus Mission
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le Corre, L.Sanchez, J.A.
Reddy, V.
Battle, A.
Cantillo, D.C.
Sharkey, B.
Jedicke, R.
Scheeres, D.J.
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Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of ArizonaIssue Date
2023-05-22
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Institute of PhysicsCitation
Lucille Le Corre et al 2023 Planet. Sci. J. 4 91Journal
Planetary Science JournalRights
© 2023. The Author(s). Published by the American Astronomical Society. Original content from this work may be used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence.Collection Information
This item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at repository@u.library.arizona.edu.Abstract
Ground-based characterization of spacecraft targets prior to mission operations is critical to properly plan and execute measurements. Understanding surface properties, such as mineralogical composition and phase curves (expected brightness at different viewing geometries), informs data acquisition during the flybys. Binary near-Earth asteroids (NEAs) (35107) 1991 VH and (175706) 1996 FG3 were selected as potential targets of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) dual spacecraft Janus mission. We observed 1991 VH using the 3 m NASA Infrared Telescope Facility (IRTF) on Mauna Kea, Hawaii, on 2008 July 26. 1996 FG3 was observed with the IRTF for seven nights during the spring of 2022. Compositional analysis of 1991 VH revealed that this NEA is classified as an Sq-type in the Bus-DeMeo taxonomy classification, with a composition consistent with LL ordinary chondrites. Using thermal modeling, we computed the thermally corrected spectra for 1996 FG3 and the corresponding best-fit albedo of about 2%-3% for the best spectra averaged for each night. Our spectral analysis indicates that this NEA is a Ch-type. The best possible meteorite analogs for 1996 FG3, based on curve matching, are two carbonaceous chondrites, Y-86789 and Murchison. No rotational variation was detected in the spectra of 1996 FG3, which means there may not be any heterogeneities on the surface of the primary. However, a clear phase reddening effect was observed in our data, confirming findings from previous ground-based studies. © 2023. The Author(s). Published by the American Astronomical Society.Note
Open access journalISSN
2632-3338Version
Final published Versionae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.3847/PSJ/acd10d
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Except where otherwise noted, this item's license is described as © 2023. The Author(s). Published by the American Astronomical Society. Original content from this work may be used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence.