Dynamical evolution and chronology of the Hygiea asteroid family

The asteroid (10) Hygiea is the fourth largest asteroid of the Main Belt, by volume and mass, and it is the largest member of its own family. Previous works investigated the long-term effects of close encounters with (10) Hygiea of asteroids in the orbital region of the family, and analyzed the taxonomical and dynamical properties of members of this family. In this paper we apply the high-quality SDSS-MOC4 taxonomic scheme of DeMeo and Carry (2013) to members of the Hygiea family core and halo, we obtain an estimate of the minimum time and number of encounter necessary to obtain a $3\sigma$ (or 99.7%) compatible frequency distribution function of changes in proper $a$ caused by close encounters with (10) Hygiea, we study the behavior of asteroids near secular resonance configurations, in the presence and absence of the Yarkovsky force, and obtain a first estimate of the age of the family based on orbital diffusion by the Yarkovsky and YORP effects with two methods. The Hygiea family is at least 2 Byr old, with an estimated age of $T = 3200^{+380}_{-120}$ Myr and a relatively large initial ejection velocity field, according to the approach of Vokrouhlick\'{y} et al. (2006a, b). Surprisingly, we found that the family age can be shortened by $\simeq$ 25% if the dynamical mobility caused by close encounters with (10) Hygiea is also accounted for, which opens interesting new research lines for the dynamical evolution of families associated with massive bodies. In our taxonomical analysis of the Hygiea asteroid family, we also identified a new V-type candidate: the asteroid (177904) (2005 SV5). If confirmed, this could be the fourth V-type object ever to be identified in the outer main belt.Comment: 13 page, 15 figures, and 4 table

A multi-domain approach to asteroid families identification

Previous works have identified families halos by an analysis in proper elements domains, or by using Sloan Digital Sky Survey-Moving Object Catalog data, fourth release (SDSS-MOC4) multi-band photometry to infer the asteroid taxonomy, or by a combination of the two methods. The limited number of asteroids for which geometric albedo was known until recently discouraged in the past the extensive use of this additional parameter, which is however of great importance in identifying an asteroid taxonomy. The new availability of geometric albedo data from the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) mission for about 100,000 asteroids significantly increased the sample of objects for which such information, with some errors, is now known. In this work we proposed a new method to identify families halos in a multi-domain space composed by proper elements, SDSS-MOC4 (a*,i-z) colors, and WISE geometric albedo for the whole main belt (and the Hungaria and Cybele orbital regions). Assuming that most families were created by the breakup of an undifferentiated parent body, they are expected to be homogeneous in colors and albedo. The new method is quite effective in determining objects belonging to a family halo, with low percentages of likely interlopers, and results that are quite consistent in term of taxonomy and geometric albedo of the halo members.Comment: 23 pages, 18 figures, 6 tables. Accepted for publication in MNRA

Dynamical evolution of V-type asteroids in the central main belt

V-type asteroids are associated with basaltic composition, and are supposed to be fragments of crust of differentiated objects. Most V-type asteroids in the main belt are found in the inner main belt, and are either current members of the Vesta dynamical family (Vestoids), or past members that drifted away. However, several V-type photometric candidates have been recently identified in the central and outer main belt. The origin of this large population of V-type objects is not well understood. Since it seems unlikely that Vestoids crossing the 3J:-1A mean-motion resonance with Jupiter could account for the whole population of V-type asteroids in the central and outer main belt, origin from local sources, such as the parent bodies of the Eunomia, and of the Merxia and Agnia asteroid families, has been proposed as an alternative mechanism. In this work we investigated the dynamical evolution of the V-type photometric candidates in the central main belt, under the effect of gravitational and non-gravitational forces. Our results show that dynamical evolution from the parent bodies of the Eunomia and Merxia/Agnia families on timescales of 2 Byr or more could be responsible for the current orbital location of most of the low-inclined V-type asteroids.Comment: 16 pages, 10 figures, 3 tables. Accepted for publication in MNRA

Tolérance aux Défaillances par Capteurs Virtuels : application aux Systèmes de Régulation d'un Turboréacteur

Over the years, market pressure has ensured that engine manufacturers invest in technology to provide clean, quiet, affordable, reliable, and efficient power. One of the last improvements is the introduction of virtual sensors that make use of non-like signals (analytical redundancy). This, is expected to improve weight, flight safety and availability. However, this new approach has not been widely investigated yet and needs further attention to remove its limitations for certificated applications.The concept of virtual sensors goes along with fault tolerance control strategies that help in limiting disruptions and maintenance costs. Indeed, a fault-tolerant control (FTC) scheme, allows for a leaner hardware structure without decreasing the safety of the system.We propose in this thesis work, to monitor through a passive FTC architecture, the Variables Geometries subsystems' of the engine: the VSV (Variable Stator Vane) and FMV (Fuel Metering Valve). A strong constrains, is not to change the parameters of the existing controllers. The approach named AVG-FTC (Variable Geometries Aircraft-Fault-Tolerant Control) is based on several cascaded sub-systems that allow to deal with the Linear Parameter Varying (LPV) model of the systems and modelling errors. The proposed FTC scheme uses a neural model of the sensor associated with a Takagi-Sugeno observer and a Neuronal Extended Kalman Filter Neural (NEKF) to account for those dynamics that cannot be explained with the LPV model to produce a real-time estimate of the monitored outputs. In case of sensor abnormality, the proposed virtual sensors can then be used as an arbitrator for sensor monitoring or as a healthy sensor used by the controller. To evaluate the approach, serval closed-loop simulations, on SNECMA jet-engine simulator have been performed. The results for distinct flight scenarios with different sensors faults have shown the capabilities of the approach in terms of stability and robustness.L'industrie aéronautique évolue dans un contexte concurrentiel qui encourage les motoristes et avionneurs à réduire les coûts de production et à améliorer leurs services aux compagnies aériennes tels que la réduction des coûts d'exploitation et de maintenances des avions. Afin de relever ce défi économique, nous proposons dans cette thèse de remplacer l'architecture de régulation actuelle de certains équipements du turboréacteur, par une architecture simplifiée plus économe en capteurs et harnais en remplaçant la redondance matérielle des capteurs par une redondance analytique. Ainsi, en cas de fonctionnement anormal, les capteurs virtuels proposés pourront être utilisés pour consolider la prise de décision sur l'état du capteur par des tests de cohérence et de validation croisée et le cas échéant se substituer aux mesures.Dans ce travail de thèse, on s'est intéressé à la surveillance des systèmes de régulation de géométries variables (régulation du flux d'air en entrée et la quantité de carburant) avec comme contrainte forte la non-modification des paramètres des lois de commande existantes et le maintien de l'opérabilité du turboréacteur avec une dégradation des performances acceptables selon les spécifications du cahier des charges.Pour répondre à ces contraintes opérationnelles, une approche FTC (Fault Tolerant Control) passive est proposée. Cette approche nommée, AVG-FTC (Aircraft Variables Geometries-Fault-Tolerant Control) s'articule autour de plusieurs sous-systèmes mis en cascades. Elle tient compte du caractère instationnaire des systèmes étudiés, des différents couplages entre géométries variables et des incertitudes de modélisation. Ainsi, l'approche utilise un modèle neuronal du capteur couplé à un observateur de type Takagi-Sugeno-LPV (Linéaire à Paramètres Variant) et à un estimateur non linéaire robuste de type NEKF (Filtre de Kalman Étendu Neuronal) qui permet de produire une estimation temps réel des grandeurs surveillées. En utilisant la plateforme de prototypage et de tests du motoriste, nous avons pu évaluer l'approche AVG-FTC en simulant plusieurs scénarios de vol en présence de défaillances. Ceci a permis de montrer les performances de l'approche en termes de robustesse, de garantie de stabilité des boucles de régulations et d'opérabilité du turboréacteur. To improve the availability, a solution that aircraft manufacturers and suppliers adopt was the fault tolerance

Estimation of the reflectance function of a surface from 3D and colour data

We propose a methodfor the estimation of the reflectance function of a surface from a set of three-dimensional (3D) data and colour data . The 3D data correspond typically to the XYZ coordinates of a set of points sampled on the surface by a laser range finder The colour data correspond to the RGB colour components of a video camera when imaging the same set of points . We use the Torrance and Sparrow illumination model to interpret the mesured 3D and colour data . This model describes the Lambertian and the specular reflexions of the light on a surface with a reduced setofparameters characterising the surface : Lambertian reflection, surface roughness, Fresnelfunction. We present a method for the estimation of these parameters and we evaluate this approach with various simulated data .Nous présentons dans cet article une méthode d'estimation de la fonction de réflectance d'une surface à partir de données tridimensionnelles (3D) et de données couleur. Les données tridimensionnelles peuvent être, par exemple, celles fournies par un dispositif d'acquisition laser par triangulation active ("laser range finder"). Les données couleur correspondent typiquement aux composantes trichromatiques d'une caméra couleur. Nous utilisons le modèle d'éclairement de Torrance et Sparrow pour l'interprétation physique des données 3D et couleur mesurées. Ce modèle décrit la réflexion diffuse et la réflexion spéculaire par un ensemble de paramètres: réflectance diffuse, rugosité de la surface et fonction de Fresnel. Nous présentons une méthode pour l'estimation de ces paramètres. Une évaluation de cette approche est effectuée sur un ensemble de données simulées

Astrometry and Light Curves of Asteroids with the SUBARU Telecope

Program available at: http://www.imcce.fr/hosted_sites/naroo/program.htmlInternational audienceWe present the reductions of observations of a single ecliptic field, carried out over one night in September 2, 2002, at the focus of the SUBARU 8.2 m telescope. The frames necessary for the reduction were retrieved through the database SMOKA (Subaru Mitaka Okayama Kiso Archive System) High frequency multi shots imaging of the fields enable to detect sub-kilometric asteroids and to perform astrometric and photometric reduction, leading in some cases to the extraction of light curves

The changing material around (2060) Chiron from an occultation on 2022 December 15

We could accurately predict the shadow path and successfully observe an occultation of a bright star by Chiron on 2022 December 15. The Kottamia Astronomical Observatory in Egypt did not detect the occultation by the solid body, but we detected three extinction features in the light curve that had symmetrical counterparts with respect to the central time of the occultation. One of the features is broad and shallow, whereas the other two features are sharper with a maximum extinction of $\sim$25$\%$ at the achieved spatial resolution of 19 km per data point. From the Wise observatory in Israel, we detected the occultation caused by the main body and several extinction features surrounding the body. When all the secondary features are plotted in the sky plane we find that they can be caused by a broad $\sim$580 km disk with concentrations at radii of 325 \pm 16 km and 423 \pm 11 km surrounding Chiron. At least one of these structures appears to be outside the Roche limit. The ecliptic coordinates of the pole of the disk are $\lambda$ = 151$^\circ~\pm$ 8$^\circ$ and $\beta$ = 18$^\circ~\pm$ 11$^\circ$, in agreement with previous results. We also show our long-term photometry indicating that Chiron had suffered a brightness outburst of at least 0.6 mag between March and September 2021 and that Chiron was still somewhat brighter at the occultation date than at its nominal pre-outburst phase. The outermost extinction features might be consistent with a bound or temporarily bound structure associated with the brightness increase. However, the nature of the brightness outburst is unclear, and it is also unclear whether the dust or ice released in the outburst could be feeding a putative ring structure or if it emanated from it.Comment: 6 pages, 4, figure

After DART: Using the First Full-scale Test of a Kinetic Impactor to Inform a Future Planetary Defense Mission

NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) is the first full-scale test of an asteroid deflection technology. Results from the hypervelocity kinetic impact and Earth-based observations, coupled with LICIACube and the later Hera mission, will result in measurement of the momentum transfer efficiency accurate to ∼10% and characterization of the Didymos binary system. But DART is a single experiment; how could these results be used in a future planetary defense necessity involving a different asteroid? We examine what aspects of Dimorphos’s response to kinetic impact will be constrained by DART results; how these constraints will help refine knowledge of the physical properties of asteroidal materials and predictive power of impact simulations; what information about a potential Earth impactor could be acquired before a deflection effort; and how design of a deflection mission should be informed by this understanding. We generalize the momentum enhancement factor β, showing that a particular direction-specific β will be directly determined by the DART results, and that a related direction-specific β is a figure of merit for a kinetic impact mission. The DART β determination constrains the ejecta momentum vector, which, with hydrodynamic simulations, constrains the physical properties of Dimorphos’s near-surface. In a hypothetical planetary defense exigency, extrapolating these constraints to a newly discovered asteroid will require Earth-based observations and benefit from in situ reconnaissance. We show representative predictions for momentum transfer based on different levels of reconnaissance and discuss strategic targeting to optimize the deflection and reduce the risk of a counterproductive deflection in the wrong direction

After DART: Using the First Full-scale Test of a Kinetic Impactor to Inform a Future Planetary Defense Mission

NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) is the first full-scale test of an asteroid deflection technology. Results from the hypervelocity kinetic impact and Earth-based observations, coupled with LICIACube and the later Hera mission, will result in measurement of the momentum transfer efficiency accurate to ∼10% and characterization of the Didymos binary system. But DART is a single experiment; how could these results be used in a future planetary defense necessity involving a different asteroid? We examine what aspects of Dimorphos’s response to kinetic impact will be constrained by DART results; how these constraints will help refine knowledge of the physical properties of asteroidal materials and predictive power of impact simulations; what information about a potential Earth impactor could be acquired before a deflection effort; and how design of a deflection mission should be informed by this understanding. We generalize the momentum enhancement factor β, showing that a particular direction-specific β will be directly determined by the DART results, and that a related direction-specific β is a figure of merit for a kinetic impact mission. The DART β determination constrains the ejecta momentum vector, which, with hydrodynamic simulations, constrains the physical properties of Dimorphos’s near-surface. In a hypothetical planetary defense exigency, extrapolating these constraints to a newly discovered asteroid will require Earth-based observations and benefit from in situ reconnaissance. We show representative predictions for momentum transfer based on different levels of reconnaissance and discuss strategic targeting to optimize the deflection and reduce the risk of a counterproductive deflection in the wrong direction