Borisov, G., Devogèle, M., Cellino, A. et al. (23 more authors) (2018) Rotational variation of the linear polarisation of the asteroid (3200) Phaethon as evidence for inhomogeneity in its surface properties. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters, 480 (1). L131-L135.
Abstract
Asteroid (3200) Phaethon is a Near-Earth Apollo asteroid with an unusual orbit that brings it closer to the Sun than any other known asteroid. Its last close approach to the Earth was in mid-December 2017 and the next one will be on October 2026. Previous rotationally time-resolved spectroscopy of Phaethon showed that its spectral slope is slightly bluish, in agreement with its B/F taxonomic classification, but at some rotational phases, it changes to slightly reddish. Motivated by this result we performed time-resolved imaging polarimetry of Phaethon during its recent close approach to the Earth. Phaethon has a spin period of 3.604 hours and we found a variation of the linear polarisation with rotation. This seems to be a rare case in which such variation is unambiguously found, also a consequence of its fairly large amplitude. Combining this new information with the brightness and colour variation, as well as previously reported results from Arecibo radar observations, we conclude that there is no variation of the mineralogy across the surface of Phaeton. However, the observed change in the linear polarisation may be related to differences in the thickness of the surface regolith in different areas or local topographic features.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: | This paper has 26 authors. You can scroll the list below to see them all or them all.
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2018 The Author(s) Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Royal Astronomical Society. This is an author produced version of a paper subsequently published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. |
Keywords: | minor planets; asteroids: individual: (3200) Phaethon; polarisation; techniques: photometric; techniques: polarimetric |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Sheffield |
Academic Units: | The University of Sheffield > Faculty of Science (Sheffield) > Department of Physics and Astronomy (Sheffield) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Sheffield |
Date Deposited: | 03 Aug 2018 10:08 |
Last Modified: | 19 Aug 2020 22:42 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Oxford University Press |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1093/mnrasl/sly140 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:134131 |