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R. P. Binzel, A. S. Rivkin (MIT), S. J. Bus, A. T. Tokunaga (Ifa, Univ. of Hawaii)
Most of our current understanding of near-Earth object (NEO) spectral properties comes from measurements covering the range 0.5-0.9 microns. We are now engaged in a new survey of the near-infrared (0.8 to 2.5 micron) spectral properties of NEOs to identify characteristics and trends that may be related to their origins, size, and space weathering effects. This survey, a joint project between MIT, Univ. of Hawaii, and the NASA IRTF utilizes the SpeX instrument (Rayner et al. 2003, PASP 115, 362) to achieve 0.8-2.5 micron spectral measurements of newly discovered NEOs, with emphasis on those in unusual or potentially hazardous orbits and those that may be most easily accessible by future spacecraft missions. All data from this survey are being made publicly available in near-real time via the website: http://smass.mit.edu/
Utilizing our new near-infrared spectral measurements of NEOs, we present results focused on trends seen over visible wavelengths (Binzel et al. 2004, Icarus 170, 259). In particular, we focus on the visible spectrum trend of a continuous distribution of spectral characteristics between ordinary chondrite meteorites and S-type asteroids. In our analysis we examine the extent to which this diameter dependent trend is a function of spectral slope alone, or mineralogic effects as registered within the full characterization of absorption bands over the 0.8 to 2.5 micron region. This research supported by NASA and the National Science Foundation.
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Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 36 #4
© 2004. The American Astronomical Soceity.