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The Rotation Rate Distribution of Small Near-Earth Asteroids

Cotto-Figueroa, Desireé
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1224698418

Abstract Details

2008, Master of Science (MS), Ohio University, Physics and Astronomy (Arts and Sciences).
Rotation periods or lower limits for 34 Near-Earth Asteroids (NEAs) were obtained through optical light curves. Two codes were developed in order to obtain the true fraction of Fast-Rotating Asteroids (FRAs), F, using Fortran 95 and IDL. The first code models the shape of an asteroid and simulates its light curve. The second code, uses the results obtained from the observational program and the simulated light curves to obtain the probability density of F, P(F). The observational and statistical analysis indicates that the population of asteroids with D<150m is almost equally divided between fast and slow rotators, and that the majority of the population of asteroids with D>150m consists of slow-rotators. These results also indicate that selection effects have significantly influenced the currently known distribution of rotation periods of NEAs and therefore that it is not representative of the real population of NEAs.
Thomas S. Statler, PhD (Advisor)
Alexander Nieman, PhD (Committee Chair)
Joseph C. Shields, PhD (Committee Member)
101 p.
Astrophysics
Near-Earth Asteroids; Rotation rate distribution; YORP effect; Bidirectional reflectance; Gaussian random spheres; Light curves

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Cotto-Figueroa, D. (2008). The Rotation Rate Distribution of Small Near-Earth Asteroids [Master's thesis, Ohio University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1224698418

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Cotto-Figueroa, Desireé. The Rotation Rate Distribution of Small Near-Earth Asteroids. 2008. Ohio University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1224698418.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Cotto-Figueroa, Desireé. "The Rotation Rate Distribution of Small Near-Earth Asteroids." Master's thesis, Ohio University, 2008. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1224698418

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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© 2008, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Ohio University and OhioLINK.