Diagnostics of small-sized forms on the surface of an asteroid according to fast spectrophotometry

1Zhilyaev, BE, 2Andreev, MV, 2Sergeev, AV, 2Godunova, VG, 2Butenko, GZ, 2Taradiy, VK
1Main Astronomical Observatory of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
2International Center for Astronomical, Medical and Ecological Research of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
Kinemat. fiz. nebesnyh tel (Online) 2016, 32(5):52-59
Start Page: Dynamics and Physics of Solar System Bodies
Language: eng
Abstract: 

Fast spectrophotometry with low-resolution imaging spectrograph, proposed by the authors, with a time resolution of a few minutes allows studying the mineralogical composition of the asteroid’s surface, using the technique of colorimetry of small-sized forms. Unlike the full tomography our method allows to record only small features on the surface of the asteroid. As an example, the asteroid 130 Elektra shows the presence on its surface approximately 16 «spots» of different mineralogical composition ranging from 13 to 30 km. With a few exceptions, the asteroid presents small-sized absorption features in agreement with the spectra of olivine- pyroxene assemblages. The color characteristics of the «spots» according to the U – B, B – V, V – R, R – I color diagrams allow, in principle, to identify the mineralogical composition of the asteroid’s surface material.

Keywords: 130 Elektra, asteroid, fast spectrophotometry, mineralogy, surface
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