Physical model of near-Earth asteroid (1917) Cuyo from ground-based optical and thermal-IR observations

Context: The near-Earth asteroid (1917) Cuyo was subject to radar and lightcurve observations during a close approach in 1989, and observed up until 2008. It was selected as one of our ESO Large Programme targets, aimed at observational detections of the YORP effect through long-term lightcurve monitoring and physical modelling of near-Earth asteroids. Aims: We aimed to constrain physical properties of Cuyo: shape, spin-state, and spectroscopic & thermophysical properties of the surface. Methods: We acquired photometric lightcurves of Cuyo spanning the period between 2010 and 2013, which we combined with published lightcurves from 1989-2008. Our thermal-infrared observations were obtained in 2011. Rotationally-resolved optical spectroscopy data were acquired in 2011 and combined with all available published spectra to investigate any surface material variegation. Results: We developed a convex lightcurve-inversion shape of Cuyo that suggests the presence of an equatorial ridge, typical for an evolved system close to shedding mass due to fast rotation. We determine limits of YORP strength through lightcurve-based spin-state modelling, including both negative and positive acceleration values, between -0.7x10-8 rad day-2 and 1.7x10-8 rad day-2. Thermo-physical modelling with the ATPM provides constraints on the geometric albedo, PV = 0.24 ± 0.07, the effective diameter Deff = 3.15 ± 0.08 km, the thermal inertia, 44 ±- 9 J m-2s-1/2K-1, and a roughness fraction of 0.52 ± 0.26. This enabled a YORP strength prediction of (-6.39 ± 0.96)x10-10 rad day-2. We also see evidence of surface compositional variation. Conclusions: The low value of YORP predicted by means of thermophysical analysis, consistent with the results of the lightcurve study, might be due to the self-limiting properties of rotational YORP, possibly involving movement of sub-surface and surface material. This may also be consistent with the surface compositional variation that we see. The physical model of Cuyo can be used to investigate cohesive forces as a way to explain why some targets survive rotation rates faster than the fission limit

The <i>Castalia</i> mission to Main Belt Comet 133P/Elst-Pizarro

We describe Castalia, a proposed mission to rendezvous with a Main Belt Comet (MBC), 133P/Elst-Pizarro. MBCs are a recently discovered population of apparently icy bodies within the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, which may represent the remnants of the population which supplied the early Earth with water. Castalia will perform the first exploration of this population by characterising 133P in detail, solving the puzzle of the MBC’s activity, and making the first in situ measurements of water in the asteroid belt. In many ways a successor to ESA’s highly successful Rosetta mission, Castalia will allow direct comparison between very different classes of comet, including measuring critical isotope ratios, plasma and dust properties. It will also feature the first radar system to visit a minor body, mapping the ice in the interior. Castalia was proposed, in slightly different versions, to the ESA M4 and M5 calls within the Cosmic Vision programme. We describe the science motivation for the mission, the measurements required to achieve the scientific goals, and the proposed instrument payload and spacecraft to achieve these

A collision in 2009 as the origin of the debris trail of asteroid P/2010 A2

The peculiar object P/2010 A2 was discovered by the LINEAR near-Earth asteroid survey in January 2010 and given a cometary designation due to the presence of a trail of material, although there was no central condensation or coma. The appearance of this object, in an asteroidal orbit (small eccentricity and inclination) in the inner main asteroid belt attracted attention as a potential new member of the recently recognized class of 'Main Belt Comets' (MBCs). If confirmed, this new object would greatly expand the range in heliocentric distance over which MBCs are found. Here we present observations taken from the unique viewing geometry provided by ESA's Rosetta spacecraft, far from the Earth, that demonstrate that the trail is due to a single event rather than a period of cometary activity, in agreement with independent results from the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). The trail is made up of relatively large particles of millimetre to centimetre size that remain close to the parent asteroid. The shape of the trail can be explained by an initial impact ejecting large clumps of debris that disintegrated and dispersed almost immediately. We determine that this was an asteroid collision that occurred around February 10, 2009.Comment: Published in Nature on 14/10/2010. 25 pages, includes supplementary materia

CCD photometry of distant comets

While it is apparent that many comets are active beyond the canonical distance of 3 AU, few surveys of cometary activity have been performed in this region previously. Such a survey enables a more accurate determination of the proportion of comets that exhibit little or no outgassing at these distances. Results are presented of CCD observations of comets in the region of 3 AU < Rh < 6 AU obtained with the 1m JKT on La Palma. Photometric observations of 15 comets were obtained, 7 of which displayed coma activity and 8 of which appeared inactive. BVR photometry was performed on these comets to determine dimensions, colours and outgassing rates. Although 40P/VaisaIa 1 and 26P/Grigg-Skjellerup were not detected, upper limits to their nuclear radii are presented. The results obtained are compared with previous observations

Direct detection of the asteroidal YORP effect

The Yarkovsky-O'Keefe-Radzievskii-Paddack (YORP) effect is believed to alter the spin states of small bodies in the solar system. However, evidence for the effect has so far been indirect. We report precise optical photometric observations of a small near-Earth asteroid, (54509) 2000 PH5, acquired over 4 years. We found that the asteroid has been continuously increasing its rotation rate co over this period by dw/dt = 2.0 (±0.2) x 10^-4 degrees per day squared. We simulated the asteroid's close Earth approaches from 2001 to 2005, showing that gravitational torques cannot explain the observed spin rate increase. Dynamical simulations suggest that 2000 PH5 may reach a rotation period of ~20 seconds toward the end of its expected lifetime

How to Reduce Attrition in Company X?

Attrition is one of the biggest issues requiring improvement at Company X like in its field of business in general. Many people that apply to contact center field are searching for a short-term employment only. In order to reduce attrition, it is important to acknowledge the real reasons why an employee decides to resign. This study concentrates on the factors that most effect on the decision to resign and tries to go deeper. The objective of this study was to find out the real reasons behind an employee’s decision to resign and collect improvement ideas or methods to decrease the amount of yearly resignations at Company X. In addition to theoretical frame of reference, the study is based on qualitative analysis. During 3 months the exiting employees answered an anonymous questionnaire and 22 were interviewed in person. Written data was collected from 18 respondents. The questions were related to one’s experience on atmosphere, image of work content before and after employment, supervisors, training, scheduling and so on. Majority of respondents stated that Company X was a good employer. Issues that affected on the decision to leave were lack of time (students) and issues with supervisors. The most common reason mentioned, was the monotonous work content. Work content was not mentioned as the main reason, however, but a reason effecting the decision. Main reasons were mostly studies, uncompetitive salary or lack of feel of success. In order to decrease the level attrition at a company like Company X, the employer must affect on employees’ motivation and gain commitment though motivated employees. Company X conducts certain researches for their personnel regularly and are therefore well aware of points of improvements. According to the results gathered from this research, there is work to do to improve supervisors’ leadership skills. Also recognizing the signs before one decides to resign is important. By keeping up and improving the great working atmosphere and creating varying working possibilities, Company X can try to decrease attrition to the target level