Searching for minor absorptions on D-type asteroids

Planetary Laser Raman Spectroscopy for Surface Exploration on C/d-type Asteroids – a Case Study

Searching for the Evolved Crust of Oxidized Asteroids

([email protected]), J. M. D. Day, R. D. Ash., T. J. McCoy, S. J. Bus, R. L. Klima, and T. Hiroi. Dept. of Astronomy/Dept. of Geology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA; Dept. of Mineral Sciences, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, 20560, USA; Institute for Astronomy, University of Hawaii, Hilo, HI, 96720, USA; Dept. of Geological Sciences, Brown University, Providence...

Spectroscopy of X-type Asteroids

Infrared observations (0.8–2.5 m) of 42 asteroids in the X complex are presented. Previous studies of these asteroids and their taxonomic classes are summarized using both the Tholen and the Bus-Binzel taxonomic systems. With this study we seek to extend our compositional information about X-complex asteroids in order to refine our knowledge of the geologic structure of the asteroid regions. Ou...

Dynamical Effects of Planetary Migration on Primordial Trojan-type Asteroids

The hypothesis of planetary migration is tested by numerically integrating orbits of Trojan-type asteroids in the gravitational Ðeld of the Sun, the migrating parent planet, and at least one extra migrating planet. A linear model and an exponential model for migration are used. Migration speeds are deÐned by several total migration times for the linear model and by two di†erent timescales for t...

Crater detection for autonomous landing on asteroids

We describe a visual positioning system for use by a spacecraft to choose a landing site, while orbiting an asteroid. The spacecraft pose is refined using landmarks, such as craters, observed by a visual sensor. The craters, which have an elliptical shape, are detected using a multiscale method based on voting, and tensors as a representation. We propose a new robust method to infer curvature e...