Virtis Observations During Rosetta Flyby Of 2867 Steins
Abstract
ESA's Rosetta spacecraft will flyby two asteroids in the next three years.The first one to be studied, Steins, has been classified as an E-type asteroid. The E- type asteroids are very uncommon and the Rosetta observation will be a real "premiere". From spectroscopic point of view Steins seems to be similar to aubrites. This hypothesis appear to be confirmed by recent (Clark et. al, JGR, 109-2004) ground based observations and by their interpretation. However - given the poor spatial resolution achievable by telescopic observations- this identification cannot be firmly established.
VIRTIS will perform observations in the spectral range 0.25-5.01 micrometers, with high S/N- better then 100 on all the spectral range- and during the close encounter with a spatial resolution as good as 200 m per pixel. VIRTIS will perform also measurements from far, thus producing spectro-photometric light curve of the object. VIRTIS observations will surely help achieving a firm explanation of the aubrites-E-type connection. If so, we will be able use aubrite meteorites as sampled material coming from a known extraterrestrial object.- Publication:
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AAS/Division for Planetary Sciences Meeting Abstracts #40
- Pub Date:
- September 2008
- Bibcode:
- 2008DPS....40.2828C