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Hubble Space Telescope observations of the nucleus and inner coma of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko
Jorda, L.; Lamy, P. L.; Gutiérrez, P. J. +3 more
Context: .Following the postponement of the launch of the Rosetta spacecraft scheduled in January 2003, comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko emerged as the most suitable new target. However a critical issue was the size, that is, the mass of its nucleus, as the surface module Philae was designed to land on a nucleus with a radius no larger than approxi…
The size and albedo of Rosetta fly-by target 21 Lutetia from new IRTF measurements and thermal modeling
Hora, J. L.; Mueller, M.; Adams, J. D. +3 more
Recent spectroscopic observations indicate that the M-type asteroid 21 Lutetia has a primitive, carbonaceous-chondrite-like (C-type) surface composition for which a low geometric albedo would be expected; this is incompatible with the IRAS albedo of 0.221± 0.020. From new thermal-infrared spectrophotometric measurements and detailed thermophysical…
Near infra-red spectroscopy of the asteroid 21 Lutetia. I. New results of long-term campaign
Barucci, M. A.; Fulchignoni, M.; Vernazza, P. +4 more
Aims.Investigation of the physical nature of the asteroid 21 Lutetia, target of Rosetta mission, is required for the completion of its ground-based science and in the frame of its future fly-by. Monitoring this object is essential in preparing the future encounter with the spacecraft.
Methods: .The asteroid was observed with SpeX/IRTF in the s…
First albedo determination of 2867 Steins, target of the Rosetta mission
Barbieri, C.; Barucci, M. A.; Fornasier, S. +2 more
Aims. We present the first albedo determination of 2867 Steins, the asteroid target of the Rosetta space mission together with 21 Lutetia.Methods.The data were obtained in polarimetric mode at the ESO-VLT telescope with the FORS1 instrument in the V and R filters. Observations were carried out from June to August 2005 covering the phase angle rang…
Comments on the amplitude-phase relationship of asteroid lightcurves. Effects of topography, surface scattering properties, and obliquity
Rodrigo, R.; Gutiérrez, P. J.; Ortiz, J. L. +2 more
Aims.We present a theoretical study on the amplitude-phase relationship (APR) for lightcurves of simulated asteroids.
Methods: .In support of the Rosetta (ESA) mission, we developed a numerical model for the investigation of the light reflectance properties of asteroidal bodies. The code is able to deal with irregular and chemically inhomogene…
Non-gravitational motion of the Jupiter-family comet 81P/Wild 2. I. The dynamical evolution
Szutowicz, S.; Królikowska, M.
We investigated the influence of the non-gravitational effects on the orbital motion of 81P/Wild 2. First, the non-gravitational accelerations on cometary nucleus throughout all five revolutions around the sun were analysed using both the symmetrical and the asymmetrical g(r)-function. Next, the symmetric model was used to examine the past and fut…
On the dynamical stability of the Rosetta orbiter. I.
Mysen, E.; Aksnes, K.
The Rosetta probe is to monitor, from a bound orbit, its primary target comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko for extended periods of time. As a preliminary assessment of the challenges involved, the strengths of the effects which perturb the spacecraft's cometocentric Keplerian trajectory are evaluated. It is found that in our adopted nominal scenario,…