ExploreNEOs. I. Description and first results from the Warm Spitzer Near-Earth Object Survey

Trilling, D. E. and Mueller, M. and Hora, J. L. and Harris, A. W. and Bhattacharya, B. and Bottke, W. F. and Chesley, S. and Delbo, M. and Emery, J. P. and Fazio, G. and Mainzer, A. and Penprase, B. and Smith, H. A. and Spahr, T. B. and Stansberry, J. A. and Thomas, C. A. (2010) ExploreNEOs. I. Description and first results from the Warm Spitzer Near-Earth Object Survey. Astronomical Journal, 140 (3), pp. 770-784. DOI: 10.1088/0004-6256/140/3/770.

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Official URL: http://iopscience.iop.org/1538-3881/140/3/770/

Abstract

We have begun the ExploreNEOs project in which we observe some 700 Near-Earth Objects (NEOs) at 3.6 and 4.5 μm with the Spitzer Space Telescope in its Warm Spitzer mode. From these measurements and catalog optical photometry we derive albedos and diameters of the observed targets. The overall goal of our ExploreNEOs program is to study the history of near-Earth space by deriving the physical properties of a large number of NEOs. In this paper, we describe both the scientific and technical construction of our ExploreNEOs program. We present our observational, photometric, and thermal modeling techniques. We present results from the first 101 targets observed in this program. We find that the distribution of albedos in this first sample is quite broad, probably indicating a wide range of compositions within the NEO population. Many objects smaller than 1 km have high albedos (0.35), but few objects larger than 1 km have high albedos. This result is consistent with the idea that these larger objects are collisionally older, and therefore possess surfaces that are more space weathered and therefore darker, or are not subject to other surface rejuvenating events as frequently as smaller NEOs.

Document Type:

Article

Title:

ExploreNEOs. I. Description and first results from the Warm Spitzer Near-Earth Object Survey

Authors:

Authors	Institution or Email of Authors
Trilling, D. E.	Department of Physics and Astronomy, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86001, USA
Mueller, M.	Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur, Université de Nice Sophia Antipolis, CNRS, BP 4229, 06304 Nice Cedex 4, France
Hora, J. L.	Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, 60 Garden Street, MS-65, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
Harris, A. W.	alan.harris@dlr.de
Bhattacharya, B.	NASA Herschel Science Center, Caltech, M/S 100-22, 770 South Wilson Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
Bottke, W. F.	Southwest Research Institute, 1050 Walnut Street, Suite 300, Boulder, CO 80302, USA
Chesley, S.	Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91109, USA
Delbo, M.	Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur, Université de Nice Sophia Antipolis, CNRS, BP 4229, 06304 Nice Cedex 4, France
Emery, J. P.	Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of Tennessee, 1412 Circle Drive, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA
Fazio, G.	Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, 60 Garden Street, MS-65, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA 4
Mainzer, A.	Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91109, USA
Penprase, B.	Department of Physics and Astronomy, Pomona College, 610 North College Avenue, Claremont, CA 91711, USA
Smith, H. A.	Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, 60 Garden Street, MS-65, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
Spahr, T. B.	Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, 60 Garden Street, MS-65, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
Stansberry, J. A.	Steward Observatory, University of Arizona, 933 North Cherry Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
Thomas, C. A.	Department of Physics and Astronomy, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86001, USA

Date:

09 August 2010

Journal or Publication Title:

Astronomical Journal

Refereed publication:

Yes

In Open Access:

In SCOPUS:

Yes

In ISI Web of Science:

Yes

Volume:

140

DOI:

10.1088/0004-6256/140/3/770

Page Range:

pp. 770-784

Status:

Published

Keywords:

minor planets, asteroids: general; infrared: planetary systems; surveys

HGF - Research field:

Aeronautics, Space and Transport

HGF - Program:

Space

HGF - Program Themes:

W EW - Erforschung des Weltraums

DLR - Research area:

Space

DLR - Program:

W EW - Erforschung des Weltraums

DLR - Research theme (Project):

W - Vorhaben Asteroiden und Kometen (old)

Location:

Berlin-Adlershof

Institutes and Institutions:

Institute of Planetary Research > Asteroids and Comets

Deposited By:

Michael Mommert

Deposited On:

13 Oct 2010 12:50

Last Modified:

20 Mar 2013 19:43

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