Astrophysical: Asteroids

  • Publication
    The size distribution of asteroids in cometary orbits and related populations
    Aims.In this work we study the cumulative size distribution of the population of asteroids in cometary orbits (ACOs), aiming to discriminate its cometary or...
  • News
    The Solar System Group at the IAC discovers a new asteroid near the Earth
    The discovery of 2024 NP2 took place during the night of July 4th in images taken during the commissioning of the TST, a new telescope recently installed at the...
  • Publication
    The spectroscopic properties of the Lixiaohua family, cradle of Main Belt Comets
    The Lixiaohua collisional family lies in the Outer Main Belt, close to the well characterized Themis primitive class family. It is one of the only three...
  • Publication
    The Splitting of Double-component Active Asteroid P/2016 J1 (PANSTARRS)
    We present deep imaging observations, orbital dynamics, and dust-tail model analyses of the double-component asteroid P/2016 J1 (J1-A and J1-B). The...
  • Publication
    The stellar occultation by (319) Leona on 2023 September 13 in preparation for the occultation of Betelgeuse
    On 2023 December 12, the star α Orionis will be occulted by asteroid (319) Leona. This represents an extraordinary and unique opportunity to analyse the...
  • Publication
    The TROY project. II. Multi-technique constraints on exotrojans in nine planetary systems
    Context. Co-orbital bodies are the byproduct of planet formation and evolution, as we know from the solar system. Although planet-size co-orbitals do not exists...
  • Publication
    The Veritas and Themis asteroid families: 5-14 μm spectra with the Spitzer Space Telescope
    Spectroscopic investigations of primitive asteroid families constrain family evolution and composition and conditions in the solar nebula, and reveal...
  • Publication
    The visible and near-infrared spectra of asteroids in cometary orbits
    Context. Dynamical and albedo properties suggest that asteroids in cometary orbits (ACOs) are dormant or extinct comets. Their study provides new insights for...
  • Publication
    Thermal properties of slowly rotating asteroids: results from a targeted survey
    Context. Earlier work suggests that slowly rotating asteroids should have higher thermal inertias than faster rotators because the heat wave penetrates deeper...