A revised shape model of asteroid (216) Kleopatra

作者：Shepard Michael K^*; Timerson Bradley; Scheeres Daniel J; Benner Lance A M; Giorgini Jon D; Howell Ellen S; Magri Christopher; Nolan Michael C; Springmann Alessondra; Taylor Patrick A; Virkki Anne

来源：Icarus, 2018, 311: 197-209.

DOI：10.1016/j.icarus.2018.04.002

• Asteroids
• Asteroids, composition
• Surfaces, asteroids
• Radar

We used three different sets of Arecibo delay-Doppler radar images and five well-covered occultations to generate a revised three-dimensional shape model of asteroid (216) Kleopatra with a spatial resolution of similar to 10 km. We find Kleopatra to be a bi-lobate contact binary of overall dimensions 276 x 94 x 78 km +/- 15% and equivalent diameter D-eq = 122 30 km; our uncertainties are upper and lower bounds. Separated binary models are ruled out by multi-chord occultations. Our model is 27% longer than the "dog-bone" model originally published by Ostro et al. (2000) but is similar to their model in the minor and intermediate axes extents. Our model's dimensions are also consistent with more recent ones based on lightcurves, adaptive-optics, and interferometric imaging. We confirm a rotational period of P = 5.385280 h +/- 0.000001 h and a rotation pole at ecliptic longitude and latitude (lambda, beta) = (74 degrees + 20 degrees) 5 degrees. Over its southern hemisphere (the one most frequently observed on Earth), Kleopatra's radar albedo is 0.43 +/- 0.10, consistent with a high near-surface bulk density and, by inference, the high metal content expected for M-class asteroids. However, the radar albedo for equatorial observations is considerably lower and more typical of a dominantly silicate composition. This observation could readily be explained by a relatively thin (1-2 m) silicate mantle over equatorial latitudes. Kleopatra's surface is relatively smooth with a mean slope of 12 degrees at the similar to 10 km baseline scale. Analysis of its geopotential surface suggests loose material will preferentially migrate to the neck, and this is supported by our radar observations.

• 出版日期2018-9-1