Loading...
Please wait, while we are loading the content...
Similar Documents
The composition of planetesimal 5145 pholus
| Content Provider | NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS) |
|---|---|
| Author | Cruikshank, D. P. Pendleton, Y. J. Bernstein, M. P. deBergh, C. Tryka, K. A. Davies, J. K. Brown, R. H. Bartholomew, M. J. Owen, T. C. Geballe, T. R. Bell II, J. F. Roush, T. L. Tholen, D. J. White, S. M. Moroz, L. V. |
| Copyright Year | 1996 |
| Description | We present a new spectrum of 5145 Pholus between 1.15 and 2.4 microns. We model this, and the previously published (0.4-1.0 microns) spectrum, using Hapke scattering theory. The 2.04 micron band of H2O ice is seen in absorption, as well as a strong band at 2.27 Am, interpreted as frozen methanol and/or the methanol photo product hexamethylenetetramine (HMT). The presence of small molecules is indicative of a chemically primitive surface, since heating removes the light hydrocarbons in favor of macromolecular carbon typically found in carbonaceous meteorites. The unusually red slope of Pholus' spectrum is matched by fine grains of Titan tholin, as found previously. Object 1993 HA2, which has an orbit similar to that of 5145 Pholus, is similarly red, but there are as yet no observations of absorption bands in its spectrum. We present a model for the composite spectrum of all spectroscopic and photometric data available for 5145 Pholus and conclude that this is a primitive object which has yet to be substantially processed by solar heat. |
| File Size | 2145796 |
| Page Count | 48 |
| File Format | |
| Alternate Webpage(s) | http://archive.org/details/NASA_NTRS_Archive_19970026236 |
| Archival Resource Key | ark:/13960/t56f0sc99 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher Date | 1996-01-01 |
| Access Restriction | Open |
| Subject Keyword | Astrophysics Spectroscopy Hexamethylenetetramine Protoplanets Methyl Alcohol Asteroids Absorption Spectra Carbonaceous Meteorites Photometry Asteroid Detection Ntrs Nasa Technical Reports Server (ntrs) Nasa Technical Reports Server Aerodynamics Aircraft Aerospace Engineering Aerospace Aeronautic Space Science |
| Content Type | Text |
| Resource Type | Article |
