Radiometric diameters of 84 asteroids from observations in 1974 - 1976.
Abstract
Diameters and geometric albedos are derived from 10- and 20-micron infrared photometry for 84 asteroids, 68 of them not previously observed in this program of asteroid radiometry. All but three of the 30 brightest asteroids are included in the total sample of 131 objects, and all asteroids with diameters greater than 250 km can now be identified. The albedos are strongly bimodal, with the great majority of asteroids (class C) having visual geometric albedos between 0.025 and 0.050. The albedos of the second most numerous class, the S asteroids, are primarily between 0.10 and 0.16. The third largest class appears to be the M objects, of which seven are now identified. Apparently, the M objects are very rare for semimajor axes of less than 2.4 AU. The unusual asteroids with albedos greater than 0.20 are also discussed.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- June 1977
- DOI:
- 10.1086/155293
- Bibcode:
- 1977ApJ...214..667M
- Keywords:
-
- Albedo;
- Asteroids;
- Size Determination;
- Astronomical Photometry;
- Infrared Astronomy;
- Tables (Data);
- Lunar and Planetary Exploration