Interpretation of (596) Scheila's Triple Dust Tails
Abstract
Strange-looking dust cloud around asteroid (596) Scheila was discovered on 2010 December 11.44-11.47. Unlike normal cometary tails, it consisted of three tails and faded within two months. We constructed a model to reproduce the morphology of the dust cloud based on the laboratory measurement of high-velocity impacts and the dust dynamics. As a result, we succeeded in reproducing the peculiar dust cloud by an impact-driven ejecta plume consisting of an impact cone and downrange plume. Assuming an impact angle of 45°, our model suggests that a decameter-sized asteroid collided with (596) Scheila from the direction of (αim, δim) = (60°, -40°) in J2000 coordinates on 2010 December 3. The maximum ejection velocity of the dust particles exceeded 100 m s-1. Our results suggest that the surface of (596) Scheila consists of materials with low tensile strength.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- November 2011
- DOI:
- 10.1088/2041-8205/741/1/L24
- arXiv:
- arXiv:1110.1150
- Bibcode:
- 2011ApJ...741L..24I
- Keywords:
-
- comets: general;
- comets: individual: (596) Scheila;
- minor planets;
- asteroids: general;
- Astrophysics - Earth and Planetary Astrophysics
- E-Print:
- 4 figures 1 table, accepted for publication in ApJL