Visual and radiometric photometry of 1580 Betulia

We obtained broadband visual and 10.6-μm photometry of 1580 Betulia during its close approach to Earth in May 1976. We analyzed our photometry by using the "radiometric method" to derive the radius (2.10 ± 0.40 km) and albedo (0.108 ± 0.012) of Betulia. Radar and polarimetric results indicate a radius greater than 3.0 km and a geometric albedo of about 0.05. To be compatible with these results we also modeled Betulia as having a surface with the thermal characteristics of bare rock rather than those of the "lunar" regolith model used for previous analysis of radiometry of other asteroids. A 3.7-km radius and a geometric albedo of ∼0.04 are compatible with all available observations. Betulia is the first Mars-crossing asteroid found to have such a low albedo, which may be indicative of carbonaceous surface material.