Spin and shape analysis for the Mars-crossing asteroid 2078 Nanking

  • Choi, Jung-Yong (Department of Astronomy and Atmospheric Sciences, Kyungpook National University) ;
  • Kim, Myung-Jin (Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute) ;
  • Choi, Young-Jun (Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute) ;
  • Yoon, Tae Seog (Department of Astronomy and Atmospheric Sciences, Kyungpook National University)
  • 발행 : 2015.04.10

초록

The YORP effect is non-gravitational force that changes the spin-status of asteroid. So far this effect has been directly detected only from the Near-Earth asteroids (Taylor et al. 2007; Lowry et al. 2007, 2014; Breiter et al. 2011; Durech et al. 2008, 2012). Pravec at el. 2008 found the evidences for changing spin rate of small asteroids (3 - 15 km) by the YORP effect in the Main-Belt and Mars-crossing asteroids. The Mars-crossing asteroids (1.3 < q < 1.66 AU) are objects that cross orbit of the Mars. The Mars-crossing asteroids are regarded as one of the main sources for the Near-Earth asteroids. We expect that rotation of Mars-crossing asteroids would be influenced by the YORP effect. We try to search observational evidence of the YORP effect for the Mars-crossing asteroid. Our target 2078 Nanking is a population of the Mars-crossing asteroid. First light-curve of 2078 Nanking was obtained from Mohamed et al. 1994, and Warner et al. 2015 recently published new observational data. We observed this asteroid on 26th Nov. 2014 and 17th Jan. 2015 using SOAO (Sobaeksan Optical Astronomy Observatory) 0.61 m telescope with 4K CCD. Using light-curve inversion method (Kaasalainen & Torppa 2001; Kaasalainen et al. 2001), we try to determine the pole orientation and shape model of this asteroid based on the combination of our light-curve and literature photometric data. Knowing spin parameters, such as rotational period and spin axis, are essential for studying the YORP effect. In this presentation, we provide some preliminary results of our recent study: light-curve and processing of shape modeling of 2078 Nanking. We plan to find observational clue for the YORP effect on the Mars-crossing asteroids.

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