Abstract
We present here VRI spectrophotometry of 39 near-Earth asteroids (NEAs) observed with the Sutherland, South Africa, node of the Korea Microlensing Telescope Network (KMTNet). Of the 39 NEAs, 19 were targeted, but because of KMTNet's large 2° ×2° field of view, 20 serendipitous NEAs were also captured in the observing fields. Targeted observations were performed within 44 days (median: 16 days, min: 4 days) of each NEA's discovery date. Our broadband spectrophotometry is reliable enough to distinguish among four asteroid taxonomies and we were able to confidently categorize 31 of the 39 observed targets as either an S-, C-, X-, or D-type asteroid by means of a Machine Learning algorithm approach. Our data suggest that the ratio between "stony" S-type NEAs and "not-stony" (C+X+D)-type NEAs, with H magnitudes between 15 and 25, is roughly 1:1. Additionally, we report ∼1 hr light curve data for each NEA, and of the 39 targets, we were able to resolve the complete rotation period and amplitude for six targets and report lower limits for the remaining targets.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Article number | 162 |
| Journal | Astronomical Journal |
| Volume | 154 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Oct 1 2017 |
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Keywords
- minor planets, asteroids: individual (near-Earth objects)
- surveys
- techniques: photometric
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Space and Planetary Science
Cite this
Characterization of Near-Earth Asteroids Using KMTNET-SAAO. / Erasmus, N.; Mommert, M.; Trilling, David E; Sickafoose, A. A.; Van Gend, C.; Hora, J. L.
In: Astronomical Journal, Vol. 154, No. 4, 162, 01.10.2017.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Characterization of Near-Earth Asteroids Using KMTNET-SAAO
AU - Erasmus, N.
AU - Mommert, M.
AU - Trilling, David E
AU - Sickafoose, A. A.
AU - Van Gend, C.
AU - Hora, J. L.
PY - 2017/10/1
Y1 - 2017/10/1
N2 - We present here VRI spectrophotometry of 39 near-Earth asteroids (NEAs) observed with the Sutherland, South Africa, node of the Korea Microlensing Telescope Network (KMTNet). Of the 39 NEAs, 19 were targeted, but because of KMTNet's large 2° ×2° field of view, 20 serendipitous NEAs were also captured in the observing fields. Targeted observations were performed within 44 days (median: 16 days, min: 4 days) of each NEA's discovery date. Our broadband spectrophotometry is reliable enough to distinguish among four asteroid taxonomies and we were able to confidently categorize 31 of the 39 observed targets as either an S-, C-, X-, or D-type asteroid by means of a Machine Learning algorithm approach. Our data suggest that the ratio between "stony" S-type NEAs and "not-stony" (C+X+D)-type NEAs, with H magnitudes between 15 and 25, is roughly 1:1. Additionally, we report ∼1 hr light curve data for each NEA, and of the 39 targets, we were able to resolve the complete rotation period and amplitude for six targets and report lower limits for the remaining targets.
AB - We present here VRI spectrophotometry of 39 near-Earth asteroids (NEAs) observed with the Sutherland, South Africa, node of the Korea Microlensing Telescope Network (KMTNet). Of the 39 NEAs, 19 were targeted, but because of KMTNet's large 2° ×2° field of view, 20 serendipitous NEAs were also captured in the observing fields. Targeted observations were performed within 44 days (median: 16 days, min: 4 days) of each NEA's discovery date. Our broadband spectrophotometry is reliable enough to distinguish among four asteroid taxonomies and we were able to confidently categorize 31 of the 39 observed targets as either an S-, C-, X-, or D-type asteroid by means of a Machine Learning algorithm approach. Our data suggest that the ratio between "stony" S-type NEAs and "not-stony" (C+X+D)-type NEAs, with H magnitudes between 15 and 25, is roughly 1:1. Additionally, we report ∼1 hr light curve data for each NEA, and of the 39 targets, we were able to resolve the complete rotation period and amplitude for six targets and report lower limits for the remaining targets.
KW - minor planets, asteroids: individual (near-Earth objects)
KW - surveys
KW - techniques: photometric
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85031116853&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85031116853&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3847/1538-3881/aa88be
DO - 10.3847/1538-3881/aa88be
M3 - Article
VL - 154
JO - Astronomical Journal
JF - Astronomical Journal
SN - 0004-6256
IS - 4
M1 - 162
ER -