Die Kleinplaneten.
Abstract
The photographic method of detecting minor planets is described, and a simplified analysis is carried out to determine the limiting magnitude at which a minor planet can still be photographed, where it is shown that a loss of four magnitude classes occurs on account of the planet's proper motions. The technique can be improved by Metcalf's procedure, whereby the fixed stars leave a trace on the film, and the light of the minor planet is able to add. Several methods of estimating the size of minor planets are mentioned, and a summary of recent albedo measurements of minor planets is given. The planets with high albedo are constituted mainly of metallic material, while those of low albedo are generally made up of carbon-containing material. It is an interesting fact that the members of the inner planetoidal belt have mostly high albedo, while 80% of those minor planets whose distance from the sun is greater than 3 AU are of low-albedo.
- Publication:
-
Orion: Zeitschrift für Amateur-Astronomie
- Pub Date:
- October 1976
- Bibcode:
- 1976Orion..34..120G
- Keywords:
-
- Asteroids;
- Astronomical Photography;
- Photographic Recording;
- Planetology;
- Albedo;
- Infrared Astronomy;
- Luminous Intensity;
- Optical Properties;
- Photographic Equipment;
- Physical Properties;
- Planetary Mass;
- Surface Properties;
- Lunar and Planetary Exploration