Physical properties of near‐Earth asteroids from thermal infrared observations and thermal modeling

Abstract— We review the physical principles on which asteroid thermal models are based and their application in the derivation of asteroid sizes and albedos. In particular, the use of simple thermal models to derive reliable diameters and albedos of near‐Earth asteroids is discussed.     

Dynamical and compositional assessment of near‐Earth object mission targets

Abstract— Using an H‐plot analysis, we identify 234 currently known near‐Earth objects that are accessible for rendezvous with a “best case” delta‐V of less than 7 km/s. We provide a preliminary compositional interpretation and assessment of these potential targets by summarizing the taxonomic properties for 44 objects. Results for one‐half (22) of this sample are based on new spectroscopic measurements presented here. Our approach provides an easy‐to‐update method for giving guidelines to both observers and mission analysts for focusing on objects for which actual mission opportunities are most likely to be found. Observing prospects are presented for categorizing the taxonomic properties of the most accessible targets that are not yet measured.     

Minor constituents in the atmosphere of Jupiter

New spectra of Jupiter in the region 0.93–1.63 are presented. Laboratory comparisons of spectra of NH₃ and CH₄ permit estimates of the absorbing pathlength for various bands of these two gases. Abundances in a single transmission through the Jupiter atmosphere, above the mean reflecting level, vary from 10 to 100 m-atm for CH₄ and from 0.2–5 m-atm for NH₃, depending on the bands considered. Upper limits for other gases are derived from new laboratory spectra and comparison with the Jupiter spectra presented herein. These are as follows: C₂H₂<2 m-atm, H₂S<0.25 m-atm, HCN<0.05 m-atm, CH₃NH₂<0.02 m-atm. A table summarizing the chemical composition of Jupiter's atmosphere is presented.     

Radar and photoelectric observations of asteroid 2100 Ra-Shalom

Results of 13-cm-wavelength radar observations and V-filter photoelectric observations of Ra- Shalom during its 1981 Aug–Sep apparition are reported. The radar data yid detections of echoes in the same sense of circular polarization as transmitted (i.e., the SC sense) as well as in the opposite (OC) sense. The estimate of the ratio of SC to OC echo power, μ_c = 0.14 ± 0.02, indicates that most, but certainly not all, of the backscattering is due to single reflections from surface elements that are fairly smooth at decimeter scales. The value obtained for the OC radar cross section on Aug 26 (1.2 ± 0.3 km²) is about three times larger than those obtained on Aug 23, 24, and 25. The echo bandwidth appears to be within about 1.5 Hz of 5.0 Hz on each date. The photoelectric data suggest a value, P_syn = 19.79 hr, for the synodic rotation period, and yield a composite lightcurve with two pairs of extrema. Combining this value for P_syn with a firm lower bound (4 Hz) on the maximum echo bandwidth yields a lower bound of 1.4 km on the maximum distance between Ra-Shalom's spin axis and any point on its surface.     

Solar radio bursts of spectral type II,coronal shocks,and optical coronal transients

The association of solar radio bursts of spectral type II and coronal shocks with solar flare ejecta observed in H, the green coronal line, and white-light coronagraphs is examined. Rather than identifying fast-moving optical coronal transients with outward-travelling shock waves that generate type II radio bursts, as has been suggested in some earlier papers, we suggest that, for the most part, such transients should probably be identified with piston-type phenomena well behind the shock. We then discuss a general model, consisting of three main velocity regimes, in which we relate type II radio bursts and coronal shocks to optically-observed ejecta.     

Evaluation of Compton contamination events in an actively shielded Ge gamma-ray detector

An expression has been developed which gives the flux of unvetoed Compton-contamination events for a particular source measurement using an actively shielded gamma-ray telescope. By use of suitable approximations, this expression reduces to simpler functions which have been evaluated for some recent measurements of the Crab nebula. It has been shown that for the exposures typical of balloon-borne observations, and a reasonably efficient anti-coincidence system (>50%), the non-photopeak component of the detected source energy-loss spectrum can be neglected.     

Physical parameters of near-Earth asteroid 1982 DV

Visual and infrared observations were made of Amor asteroid 1982 DV during its discovery apparition. Broadband visual and near-infrared photometry shows that it is an S-class asteroid. Narrowband spectrophotometry shows an absorption feature due to olivine or pyroxene or both centered at 0.93 μm. Applying a nonrotating thermal model to 10-μm photometry, the geometric albedo is calculated to be approximately 0.27. The geometric albedo for a slowly rotating, rocky surface was calculated for 1 night to be 0.15, consistent with S-class asteroid albedos. Thus, 1982 DV is either one of the most reflective S-class asteroids known, or a significant amount of bare rock is exposed on the asteroid's surface. For the nonrotating model, ellipsoidal dimensions for 1982 DV are 3.5 × 1.4 × 1.4 km.     

Impact melting in the Cumberland Falls and Mayo Belwa aubrites

Abstract– Six chondritic clasts in the Cumberland Falls polymict breccia were examined: four texturally resemble ordinary chondrites (OCs) and two are impact melt breccias containing shocked OC clasts adjacent to a melt matrix. The six chondritic clasts are probably remnants of a single OC projectile that was heterogeneously shocked when it collided with the Cumberland Falls host. Mayo Belwa is the first known aubrite impact melt breccia. It contains coarse enstatite grains exhibiting mosaic extinction; the enstatite grains are surrounded by a melt matrix composed of 3–16 μm‐size euhedral and subhedral enstatite grains embedded in sodic plagioclase. Numerous vugs, ranging from a few micrometers to a few millimeters in size, constitute ～5 vol% of the meteorite. They occur nearly exclusively within the Mayo Belwa matrix; literature data show that some vugs are lined with bundles of acicular grains of the amphibole fluor‐richterite. This phase has been reported previously in only two other enstatite meteorites (Abee and St. Sauveur), both of which are EH‐chondrite impact melt breccias. It seems likely that in Mayo Belwa, volatiles were vaporized during an impact event and formed bubbles in the melt. As the melt solidified, the bubbles became cavities; plagioclase and fluor‐richterite crystallized at the margins of these cavities via reaction of the melt with the vapor.     

Morphogenesis of the Euplotid Ciliate Uronychia binucleata Young, 1922(Ciliophora,Hypotrichia)

Morphogenesis of a population of the marine euplotid ciliate, Uronychia binucleata, which was found in Yellow Sea coastal waters next to a sewage outfall at a beach near Zhanqiao Pier, Qingdao, China, was investigated using protargol staining. The main pattern of morphogenesis is typical for the genus and can be summarized as follows: 1) the oral primordium in both proter and opisthe develops de novo in a subcortical pouch. In each daughter cell, the developing adoral zone of membranelles divides into two parts. The new membranelles formed in the proter's oral primordium will replace the leftmost five parental ones; six parental membranelles are retained by the proter; 2) the undulating membranes anlage is formed and develops independently from the oral primordium within the same subcortical pouch; 3) five primary front oventral-transverse cirral anlagen appear de novo on the cell surface; 4) the marginal cirral anlagen are formed de novo; 5) the leftmost frontal cirrus develops de novo on the cell surface; 6) two caudal cirri are formed at the posterior end of the rightmost anlage while the second primordium from the right gives rise to the third caudal cirrus. In contrast to its congeners, the anlage of the leftmost frontal cirrus is formed to the right of the undulating membranes anlage and before the formation of the latter.     

On the petrology and structure of a gravitionally differentiated moon of fission origin

In a previous paper, it was shown that the basic properties and the developmental history of a gravitationally differentiated Moon of fission origin match those known for the Moon. In the first part of this report, the models of a differentiated Moon are critically reviewed based on second order considerations of some of the chemical systems used to develope the earlier models and based on new lunar data. As a result, slightly updated models are developed and the results indicate that a Moon of fission origin has a feldspar rich crust (≈70% Or_0.8Ab_5.3An_93.9 with ≈30% pyroxene and olivine) reaching an average depth of ≈65 km. A KREEP rich layer is located at the interface of the crust and the upper mantle. The upper mantle consists of peridotite (≈80% Wo₁₀En₇₀Fs₂₀ and ≈20% Fo_75–80 with ≈3% Al₂O₃ and ≈ 2% TiO₂) and reaches a depth of 300–400 km. Below 300–400 km lies a dunite (≈Fo₉₅) lower mantle. A simple model for the distribution of K, U and Th (and by inference, KREEP) in the differentiated Moon model is developed using a distribution coefficient of 0.1 for the three elements. This coefficient is derived from published data on the distribution of U in Apollo 11 basalts. The simple model successfully accounts for the observed K, U and Th contents of the various mare basalts and upland rocks and yields a heat flow of 21 erg cm^?2s^?1 for the Moon. A model for the fine structure of the peridotite upper mantle of the model Moon is developed based on the TiO₂ and trace element variations observed in the various mare basalts. It is proposed that the upper mantle is rhythmically banded on the scale of 10's of km and that this banding leads to local variations of a factor of ±3 in the K, U and Th content, _-10 ⁺⁵ in the TiO₂ content and _-∞ ⁺² in the olivine content of the peridotite. It is also proposed that this banding leads to large scale horizontal inhomogenuities in the composition of the upper mantle. It is also shown that the formation of the primitive suite of upland rocks is easily explained by the cumulation of plagioclase, which carried varying amounts of pyroxene, olivine and melt with it, during the peritectic crystallization of the last 20% of the differentiating Moon. It is found that the 100 Mg/(Mg+Fe) ratios of the mafics and the An contents of the plagioclases of the rocks are controlled by several factors, the most important of which is the ratio of melt to crystals which together formed the various upland rocks. The inverse relationship between the An contents and the Mg contents of the upland rocks is a direct consequence of the differentiation sequence proposed. The results and models presented in this paper further support the hypothesis that the Moon formed as a result of fission from the proto-Earth.