Orbital, spin state and thermophysical characterization of near-Earth asteroid (3200) Phaethon

The near-Earth asteroid (3200) Phaethon is an intriguing object: its perihelion is only at 0.14 au and is associated with the Geminid meteor stream. We aim to use all available disk-integrated optical data to derive reliable convex shape model of Phaethon. By interpreting the available space- and ground-based thermal infrared data and Spitzer spectra using a thermophysical model, we also aim to further constrain its size, thermal inertia, and visible geometric albedo. We apply the convex inversion method to the new optical data obtained by six instruments together with the already existing observations. The convex shape model is then used as an input for the thermophysical modeling. We also study the long-term stability of Phaethon’s orbit and spin axis by a numerical orbital and rotation-state integrator We present a new convex shape model and rotational state of Phaethon – sidereal rotation period of 3.603958(2) h and ecliptic coordinates of the preferred pole orientation of (319◦ , −39◦) with a 5◦ uncertainty. Moreover, we derive its size (D=5.1±0.2 km), thermal inertia (Γ=600±200 J m-2s -1/2K -1), geometric visible albedo (pV=0.122±0.008), and estimate the macroscopic surface roughness. We also find that the Sun illumination at the perihelion passage during past thousands of years is not connected to a specific area on the surface implying non-preferential heating

Shape model and spin state of non-principal axis rotator (5247) Krylov

Context. The study of non-principal axis (NPA) rotators can provide important clues to the evolution of the spin state of asteroids. However, very few studies to date have focused on NPA-rotating main belt asteroids (MBAs). One MBA known to be in an excited rotation state is asteroid (5247) Krylov. Aims. By using disk-integrated photometric data, we construct a physical model of (5247) Krylov including shape and spin state. Methods. We applied the light curve convex inversion method employing optical light curves obtained by using ground-based telescopes in three apparitions during 2006, 2016, and 2017, along with infrared light curves obtained by the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer satellite in 2010. Results. Asteroid (5247) Krylov is spinning in a short axis mode characterized by rotation and precession periods of 368.7 and 67.27 h, respectively. The angular momentum vector orientation of Krylov is found to be λL = 298° and βL = −58°. The ratio of the rotational kinetic energy to the basic spin-state energy E∕E0 ≃ 1.02 shows that the (5247) Krylov is about 2% excited state compared to the principal axis rotation state. The shape of (5247) Krylov can be approximated by an elongated prolate ellipsoid with a ratio of moments of inertia of Ia : Ib : Ic = 0.36 : 0.96 : 1. This is the first physical model of an NPA rotator among MBAs. The physical processes that led to the current NPA rotation cannot be unambiguously reconstructed

(16635) 1993 QO

International audienc

(16635) 1993 QO

International audienc

The EURONEAR Lightcurve Survey of Near Earth Asteroids

International audienc

Binary asteroid population. 3. Secondary rotations and elongations

International audienc

Asteroid pairs: A complex picture

International audienc

Spin rate distribution of small asteroids

International audienceThe spin rate distribution of main belt/Mars crossing (MB/MC) asteroids with diameters 3-15 km is uniform in the range from f=1 to 9.5 d -1, and there is an excess of slow rotators with