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S.M. Lederer (Cal. State Univ. S.B.), D. Domingue (JHUAPL), F. Vilas (NASA JSC), M. Abe (ISAS), T. Farnham (Univ. of Maryland), L.M. French (Ill. Wesleyn Univ.), M. Ishiguro (ISAS), K.S. Jarvis (Lockheed-Martin Space Op.), S.M. Larson (LPL Univ. of Ariz.), S. Lowry (JPL), P. Massey (Lowell Obs.), Y. Ohba, Y. Takagi (ISAS), P. Weissman (JPL)
In March, 2001, the MUSES-C spacecraft target asteroid 1998 SF36 (25143) made its final close approach to Earth prior to its rendezvous with the spacecraft in 2005. During this time, we carried out an extensive observing campaign to better characterize this near-Earth asteroid. Results included here capitalize on broadband UBVRI photometric observations taken with a series of telescopes, instrumentation, and observers.
The photometric data sets were combined to calculate Hapke model parameters of the surface material of 1998 SF36, and examine the solar-corrected broadband color characteristics of the asteroid. We employed the Hapke model to estimate the surface roughness, single particle scattering albedo, and geometric and bond albedos. Model results indicate a large geometric albedo, which suggests a rocky, smoother surface, consistent with other smaller near-Earth asteroids. These calculations show that SF36 appears significantly brighter than the general main-belt S-class asteroids, in agreement with the results of other observers. Examination of the broad band colors in the context of the populations of the main-belt asteroids and near-Earth asteroids show that SF36 – a small-diameter NEA – has the spectral characteristics of a “space weathered”, larger-diameter S-class asteroid. The characteristics of SF36 remain enigmatic, and await spacecraft examination.
This work was supported in part by a National Research Council (NRC) Fellowship and the NASA/MUSES-C program.
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Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 35 #4
© 2003. The American Astronomical Soceity.