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Vesta's UV lightcurve: hemispheric variation in brightness and spectral reversal

Vilas, Faith; Hendrix, Amanda R.; Festou, Michel C.

Spectra of asteroid 4 Vesta obtained in October 1990 with the International Ultraviolet Explorer are reanalyzed and reinterpreted. A large portion of the eastern hemisphere (based on the prime meridian definition of Thomas et al., 1997a) is darker at UV wavelengths than much of the western hemisphere. The UV lightcurve is in contrast with the visi…