Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

Physical properties of near-Earth asteroid (2102) Tantalus from multiwavelength observations

Rożek, Agata; Lowry, Stephen C; Rozitis, Benjamin; Dover, Lord R; Taylor, Patrick A; Virkki, Anne; Green, Simon F; Snodgrass, Colin; Fitzsimmons, Alan; Campbell-White, Justyn; Sajadian, Sedighe; Bozza, Valerio; Burgdorf, Martin J; Dominik, Martin; Figuera Jaimes, R; Hinse, Tobias C; Hundertmark, Markus; Jørgensen, Uffe G; Longa-Peña, Penélope; Rabus, Markus; Rahvar, Sohrab; Skottfelt, Jesper; Southworth, John

Physical properties of near-Earth asteroid (2102) Tantalus from multiwavelength observations Thumbnail


Authors

Agata Rożek

Stephen C Lowry

Benjamin Rozitis

Lord R Dover

Patrick A Taylor

Anne Virkki

Simon F Green

Colin Snodgrass

Alan Fitzsimmons

Justyn Campbell-White

Sedighe Sajadian

Valerio Bozza

Martin J Burgdorf

Martin Dominik

R Figuera Jaimes

Tobias C Hinse

Markus Hundertmark

Uffe G Jørgensen

Penélope Longa-Peña

Markus Rabus

Sohrab Rahvar

Jesper Skottfelt



Abstract

Between 2010 and 2017, we have collected new optical and radar observations of the potentially hazardous asteroid (2102) Tantalus from the ESO NTT and Danish telescopes at the La Silla Observatory, and from the Arecibo planetary radar. The object appears to be nearly spherical, showing a low-amplitude light-curve variation and limited large-scale features in the radar images. The spin-state is difficult to constrain with the available data; including a certain light-curve subset significantly changes the spin-state estimates, and the uncertainties on period determination are significant. Constraining any change in rotation rate was not possible, despite decades of observations. The convex light curve-inversion model, with rotational pole at ? = 210° ± 41° and ß = -30° ± 35°, is more flattened than the two models reconstructed by including radar observations: with prograde (? = 36° ± 23°, ß = 30° ± 15°), and with retrograde rotation mode (? = 180° ± 24°, ß = -30 ± 16°). Using data from WISE, we were able to determine that the prograde model produces the best agreement in size determination between radar and thermophysical modelling. Radar measurements indicate possible variation in surface properties, suggesting one side might have lower radar albedo and be rougher at the centimetre-to-decimetre scale than the other. However, further observations are needed to confirm this. Thermophysical analysis indicates a surface covered in fine-grained regolith, consistent with radar albedo, and polarisation ratio measurements. Finally, geophysical investigation of the spin-stability of Tantalus shows that it could be exceeding its critical spin-rate via cohesive forces.

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Jun 24, 2022
Online Publication Date Jul 4, 2022
Publication Date 2022-09
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Print ISSN 0035-8711
Publisher Oxford University Press
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 515
Issue 3
Pages 4551 - 4564
DOI https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stac1835
Keywords techniques: photometric; techniques: radar astronomy; minor planets; asteroids: individual: (2102) Tantalus; methods: observational
Publisher URL https://academic.oup.com/mnras/article/515/3/4551/6628659

Files




You might also like



Downloadable Citations