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Size, albedo, and taxonomic type of potential spacecraft target Asteroid (10302) 1989 ML

Authors :
Mueller, Michael
Harris, Alan W.
Fitzsimmons, Alan
Source :
Icarus. April, 2007, Vol. 187 Issue 2, p611, 5 p.
Publication Year :
2007

Abstract

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2007.01.002 Byline: Michael Mueller (a), Alan W. Harris (a), Alan Fitzsimmons (b) Keywords: Asteroids; Infrared observations; Near-Earth objects; Spectrophotometry Abstract: The Amor-type near-Earth Asteroid (10302) 1989 ML has an 'Earth-like' orbit (period 1.44 yr, eccentricity 0.14, inclination 4.4[degrees]), therefore the energy required to reach it from the Earth is relatively small making it a very attractive target for rendezvous missions. We have observed 1989 ML in the thermal-infrared using the Spitzer Space Telescope, and compared these data with optical and near-infrared observations. The Spitzer results imply a diameter of 0.28[+ or -]0.05km and a geometric albedo of 0.37[+ or -]0.15; together with the reflectance spectrum they are consistent with the relatively rare E classification. Author Affiliation: (a) DLR Institute of Planetary Research, RutherfordstraAe 2, 12489 Berlin, Germany (b) Astrophysics Research Centre, Queen's University Belfast, BT7 1NN, UK Article History: Received 29 September 2006; Revised 18 December 2006

Subjects

Subjects :
Astronomy
Earth sciences

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
00191035
Volume :
187
Issue :
2
Database :
Gale General OneFile
Journal :
Icarus
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsgcl.160427537