Asteroid orbital error analysis: Theory and application

We present a rigorous Bayesian theory for asteroid orbital error estimation in which the probability density of the orbital elements is derived from the noise statistics of the observations. For Gaussian noise in a linearized approximation the probability density is also Gaussian, and the errors of the orbital elements at a given epoch are fully described by the covariance matrix. The law of error propagation can then be applied to calculate past and future positional uncertainty ellipsoids (Cappellari et al. 1976, Yeomans et al. 1987, Whipple et al. 1991). To our knowledge, this is the first time a Bayesian approach has been formulated for orbital element estimation. In contrast to the classical Fisherian school of statistics, the Bayesian school allows a priori information to be formally present in the final estimation. However, Bayesian estimation does give the same results as Fisherian estimation when no priori information is assumed (Lehtinen 1988, and reference therein)

Light scattering Q-space analysis of irregularly shaped particles

Citation: Heinson, Y. W., Maughan, J. B., Heinson, W. R., Chakrabarti, A., & Sorensen, C. M. (2016). Light scattering Q-space analysis of irregularly shaped particles. Journal of Geophysical Research-Atmospheres, 121(2), 682-691. doi:10.1002/2015jd024171We report Q-space analysis of light scattering phase function data for irregularly shaped dust particles and of theoretical model output to describe them. This analysis involves plotting the scattered intensity versus the magnitude of the scattering wave vector q=(4/)sin(/2), where is the optical wavelength and is the scattering angle, on a double-logarithmic plot. In q-space all the particle shapes studied display a scattering pattern which includes a q-independent forward scattering regime; a crossover, Guinier regime when q is near the inverse size; a power law regime; and an enhanced backscattering regime. Power law exponents show a quasi-universal functionality with the internal coupling parameter . The absolute value of the exponents start from 4 when <1, the diffraction limit, and decreases as increases until a constant 1.750.25 when 10. The diffraction limit exponent implies that despite their irregular structures, all the particles studied have mass and surface scaling dimensions of D-m=3 and D-s=2, respectively. This is different from fractal aggregates that have a power law equal to the fractal dimension D-f because D-f=D-m=D-s<3. Spheres have D-m=3 and D-s=2 but do not show a single power law nor the same functionality with . The results presented here imply that Q-space analysis can differentiate between spheres and these two types of irregularly shaped particles. Furthermore, they are applicable to analysis of the contribution of aerosol radiative forcing to climate change and of aerosol remote sensing data

Photometry and polarimetry of the nucleus of comet 2P/Encke

Broadband imaging photometry, and broadband and narrowband linear polarimetry was measured for the nucleus of 2P/Encke over the phase-angle range 4 - 28 deg. An analysis of the point spread function of the comet reveals only weak coma activity, corresponding to a dust production of the order of 0.05 kg/s. The nucleus displays a color independent photometric phase function of almost linear slope. The absolute R filter magnitude at zero phase angle is 15.05 +/- 0.05, and corresponds to an equivalent radius for the nucleus of 2.43 +/- 0.06 km (for an adopted albedo of 0.047). The nucleus color V - R is 0.47 +/- 0.07, suggesting a spectral slope of 11 +/- 8 %/100nm. The phase function of linear polarimetry in the V and R filters shows a widely color independent linear increase with phase angle (0.12 +/- 0.02%/deg). We find discrepancies in the photometric and polarimetric parameters between 2P/Encke and other minor bodies in the solar system, which may indicate significant differences in the surface material properties and light-scattering behavior of the bodies. The linear polarimetric phase function of 2P/Encke presented here is the first ever measured for a cometary nucleus, and its analysis encourages future studies of cometary nuclei in order to characterize the light-scattering behavior of comets on firm empirical grounds and provide suitable input to a comprehensive modeling of the light scattering by cometary surfaces.Comment: Accepted by A&

Dynamics of small particles in electromagnetic radiation fields : A numerical solution

We establish a theoretical framework for solving the equations of motion for an arbitrarily shaped, inhomogeneous dust particle in the presence of radiation pressure. The repeated scattering problem involved is solved using a state-of-the-art volume integral equation-based T-matrix method. A Fortran implementation of the framework is used to solve the explicit time evolution of a homogeneous irregular sample geometry. The results are shown to be consistent with rigid body dynamics, between integrators, and comparable with predictions from an alignment efficiency potential map. Also, we demonstrate the explicit effect of single-particle dynamics to observed polarization using the obtained orientational results.Peer reviewe

ASTEROID SIZING BY RADIOGALAXY OCCULTATION AT 5 GHZ

Stellar occultations by asteroids observed at visual wavelengths have been an important tool for studying the size and shape of asteroids and for revising the orbital parameters of asteroids. At radio frequencies, a shadow of an asteroid on the Earth is dominated by diffraction effects. Here, we show, for the first time, that a single observation of an occultation of a compact radio source at a frequency of 5 GHz can be used to derive the effective size of the occulting object and to derive the distance between the observer and the center of the occultation path on the Earth. The derived diameter of the occulting object, asteroid (115) Thyra, is 75 +/- 6 km. The observed occultation profile shows features that cannot be explained by diffraction of a single asteroid.Peer reviewe

Polarimetry of transneptunian objects (136472) Makemake and (90482) Orcus

Context. We study the surface properties of transneptunian populations of Solar-system bodies. Aims. We investigate the surface characteristics of the dwarf planet (136472) Makemake and the resonant object (90482) Orcus. Methods. Using the FORS2 instrument of the ESO-VLT we have carried out linear polarisation measurements of Makemake and Orcus. Results. Polarisation of Orcus is similar to that of smaller size objects. The polarimetric properties of Makemake are very close to those of Eris and Pluto. We have not found any significant differences in the polarisation properties of objects from different dynamical classes. However, there are significant differences in polarisation of large and smaller size objects, and between large TNOs with water-ice and methane-ice dominated surfaces. Conclusions. We confirm the different types of polarisation phase behavior for the largest and smaller size TNOs. To explain subtle surface polarisation of Pluto, Makemake and Eris we assume that their surfaces are covered by a thin layer of hoarfrost masking the surface structure

Photometric study for near-Earth asteroid (155140) 2005 UD

The Apollo-type near-Earth asteroid (155140) 2005 UD is thought to be a member of the Phaethon-Geminid meteor stream Complex (PGC). Its basic physical parameters are important for unveiling its origin and its relationship to the other PGC members as well as to the Geminid stream. Adopting the Lommel-Seeliger ellipsoid method and H, G(1), G(2) phase function, we carry out spin, shape, and phase curve inversion using the photometric data of 2005 UD. The data consists of 11 new lightcurves, 3 lightcurves downloaded from the Minor Planet Center, and 288 sparse data points downloaded from the Zwicky Transient Facility database. As a result, we derive the pole solution of (285 degrees.8(-5.3)(+1.1), - 25 degrees.8(-12.5)(+5.3)) in the ecliptic frame of J2000.0 with the rotational period of 5.2340(-0.00001)(+0.00004) h. The corresponding triaxial shape (semiaxes a > b > c) is estimated as b/a = 0.76(-0.01)(+0.01) and c/a = 0.40(-0.01)(+0.03). Using the calibrated photometric data of 2005 UD, the phase function parameters H, G(1), G(2) are estimated as 17.22(-0.03)(+0.03) mag, 0.61(-0.02)(+0.02), and - 0.006(-0.006)(+0.006), respectively. Correspondingly, the phase integral q, photometric phase coefficient k, and the enhancement factor zeta are 0.2508, -1.9224, and 1.6642. From the values of G(1) and G(2), 2005 UD is likely to be a C-type asteroid. We estimate the equivalent diameter of 2005 UD from the new H-value. it is 1.28 +/- 0.02 km using its new geometric albedo of 0.14.Peer reviewe

Polarimetry and photometry of the peculiar main-belt object 7968 = 133P/Elst-Pizarro

133P/Elst-Pizarro is an object that has been described as either an active asteroid or a cometary object in the main asteroid belt. Here we present a photometric and polarimetric study of this object in an attempt to infer additional information about its origin. With the FORS1 instrument of the ESO VLT, we have performed during the 2007 apparition of 133P/Elst-Pizarro quasi-simultaneous photometry and polarimetry of its nucleus at nine epochs in the phase angle range 0 - 20 deg. For each observing epoch, we also combined all available frames to obtain a deep image of the object, to seek signatures of weak cometary activity. Polarimetric data were analysed by means of a novel physical interference modelling. The object brightness was found to be highly variable over timescales <1h, a result fully consistent with previous studies. Using the albedo-polarization relationships for asteroids and our photometric results, we found for our target an albedo of about 0.06-0.07 and a mean radius of about 1.6 km. Throughout the observing epochs, our deep imaging of the comet detects a tail and an anti-tail. Their temporal variations are consistent with an activity profile starting around mid May 2007 of minimum duration of four months. Our images show marginal evidence of a coma around the nucleus. The overall light scattering behaviour (photometry and polarimetry) resembles most closely that of F-type asteroids.Comment: Accepted by Astronomy and Astrophysic

A revised asteroid polarization-albedo relationship using WISE/NEOWISE data

We present a reanalysis of the relationship between asteroid albedo and polarization properties using the albedos derived from the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer. We find that the function that best describes this relation is a three-dimensional linear fit in the space of log(albedo)-log(polarization slope)-log(minimum polarization). When projected to two dimensions the parameters of the fit are consistent with those found in previous work. We also define p* as the quantity of maximal polarization variation when compared with albedo and present the best fitting albedo-p* relation. Some asteroid taxonomic types stand out in this three-dimensional space, notably the E, B, and M Tholen types, while others cluster in clumps coincident with the S- and C-complex bodies. We note that both low albedo and small (D<30 km) asteroids are under-represented in the polarimetric sample, and we encourage future polarimetric surveys to focus on these bodies.Comment: 16 pages, Accepted to Ap