M4AST - A Tool for Asteroid Modelling

M4AST (Modelling for asteroids) is an online tool devoted to the analysis and interpretation of reflection spectra of asteroids in the visible and near-infrared spectral intervals. It consists into a spectral database of individual objects and a set of routines for analysis which address scientific aspects such as: taxonomy, curve matching with laboratory spectra, space weathering models, and mineralogical diagnosis. Spectral data were obtained using groundbased facilities; part of these data are precompiled from the literature[1].The database is composed by permanent and temporary files. Each permanent file contains a header and two or three columns (wavelength, spectral reflectance, and the error on spectral reflectance). Temporary files can be uploaded anonymously, and are purged for the property of submitted data. The computing routines are organized in order to accomplish several scientific objectives: visualize spectra, compute the asteroid taxonomic class, compare an asteroid spectrum with similar spectra of meteorites, and computing mineralogical parameters. One facility of using the Virtual Observatory protocols was also developed.A new version of the service was released in June 2016. This new release of M4AST contains a database and facilities to model more than 6,000 spectra of asteroids. A new web-interface was designed. This development allows new functionalities into a user-friendly environment. A bridge system of access and exploiting the database SMASS-MIT (http://smass.mit.edu) allows the treatment and analysis of these data in the framework of M4AST environment.Reference:[1] M. Popescu, M. Birlan, and D.A. Nedelcu, "Modeling of asteroids: M4AST," Astronomy & Astrophysics 544, EDP Sciences, pp. A130, 2012.