Asteroid Polarimetric Phase Behavior in the Near-infrared: S- and C-complex Objects
Abstract
We present the first results of our survey of asteroid polarization phase curves in the near-infrared J and H bands using the WIRC+Pol instrument on the Palomar 200-inch telescope. We confirm through observations of standard stars that WIRC+Pol can reach the 0.1% precision needed for asteroid phase curve characterization, and we show that C-complex asteroids could act as an alternate calibration source, as they show less wavelength variation than stellar polarized standards. Initial polarization phase curve results for S-complex asteroids show a shift in behavior as a function of wavelength from visible to near-infrared bands, extending previously observed trends. Full near-infrared polarization phase curve characterization of individual asteroids will provide a unique constraint on surface composition of these objects by probing the wavelength dependence of albedo and index of refraction of the surface material.
- Publication:
-
The Planetary Science Journal
- Pub Date:
- April 2022
- DOI:
- 10.3847/PSJ/ac6342
- arXiv:
- arXiv:2203.15790
- Bibcode:
- 2022PSJ.....3...90M
- Keywords:
-
- Asteroids;
- Asteroid surfaces;
- Polarimetry;
- 72;
- 2209;
- 1278;
- Astrophysics - Earth and Planetary Astrophysics
- E-Print:
- 17 pages, 5 figures. Accepted for publication in PSJ