Grants related:
General
This project studies the physical and compositional properties of the so-called minor bodies of the Solar System, that includes asteroids, icy objects, and comets. Of special interest are the trans-neptunian objects (TNOs), including those considered the most distant objects detected so far (Extreme-TNOs or ETNOs); the comets and the comet-asteroid transitional objects (Centaurs and main belt comets or MBCs); the primitive asteroids. The last two groups contain the most primordial and pristine material of the Solar System and so they provide the clues to understand the origin and the subsequent evolution of our system. Among asteroid population, the near-Earth asteroids or NEAs, as well as the potentially hazardous asteroids (PHAs) are of particular interest: due to their proximity to the Earth, they are the most accesible to spacecraft and so are ideal for in-situ or even sample-return space missions. In addition they are considered as future potential resources of materials (asteroid mining), and they are also impact hazards for the Earth. Regarding primitive asteroids, it is remarkable the spectroscopic survey (visible and near-infrared) led by the PI of this project (PRIMitive Asteroids Spectroscopic Survey - PRIMASS). This survey received financial support from NASA (17-PDART17_2-0097, PI: N. Pinilla-Alonso, 137.000€ - 2 years) in order to upload and archive at the Small Bodies Node of the NASA Planetary Data System the more than 800 spectra obtained.
The compositional surface properties, as well as the physical and thermal properties of these objects are inferred through imaging, photometry, and spectroscopy in a wide range of wavelengths (from 0.35 up to 24 microns). Data are interpreted using scattering and thermo-physical models. This project works also in the study of the physical properties of the cometary nuclei, as well as properties of dust and coma in the tails of the MBCs and the mechanisms that generate them.
This group maintains several international collaborations with other groups, and some of their members are also members of (1) the Science Team of the NASA OSIRIS-REx mission, in particular the Image Processing Working Group, were they work with the images obtained with the OCAMS suite of cameras; (2) the coordination of an international group to study NEAs (EURONEAR); (3) the central core of the proponents of ESA M5 missions CASTALIA, CASTAway, and Hera; (4) the Center for Lunar and Asteroid Surface Science - CLASS (NASA); (5) the Solar System group of the Euclid consortium; (6) the surveys J-PLUS and J-PASS for the exploitation of observations of Solar System objects; (7) the Solar System working group of Gaia and JWST.
Members
Scientific activity
Related publications
-
JEM-EUSO observational technique and exposureDesigned as the first mission to explore the ultra-high energy universe from space, JEM-EUSO observes the Earth's atmosphere at night to record the ultraviolet tracks generated by the extensive air showers. We present the expected geometrical aperture and annual exposure in the nadir and tilt modes for ultra-high energy cosmic rays observation as aAdams, J. H. et al.
Advertised on:
112015 -
The JEM-EUSO observation in cloudy conditionsThe JEM-EUSO (Extreme Universe Space Observatory on-board the Japanese Experiment Module) mission will conduct extensive air shower (EAS) observations on the International Space Station (ISS). Following the ISS orbit, JEM-EUSO will experience continuous changes in the atmospheric conditions, including cloud presence. The influence of clouds onAdams, J. H. et al.
Advertised on:
112015 -
Performances of JEM-EUSO: angular reconstruction. The JEM-EUSO CollaborationMounted on the International Space Station(ISS), the Extreme Universe Space Observatory, on-board the Japanese Experimental Module (JEM-EUSO), relies on the well established fluorescence technique to observe Extensive Air Showers (EAS) developing in the earth's atmosphere. Focusing on the detection of Ultra High Energy Cosmic Rays (UHECR) in theAdams, J. H. et al.
Advertised on:
112015 -
Performances of JEM-EUSO: energy and X max reconstructionThe Extreme Universe Space Observatory (EUSO) on-board the Japanese Experimental Module (JEM) of the International Space Station aims at the detection of ultra high energy cosmic rays from space. The mission consists of a UV telescope which will detect the fluorescence light emitted by cosmic ray showers in the atmosphere. The mission, currentlyAdams, J. H. et al.
Advertised on:
112015 -
Ultra high energy photons and neutrinos with JEM-EUSOUltra high energy photons and neutrinos are carriers of very important astrophysical information. They may be produced at the sites of cosmic ray acceleration or during the propagation of the cosmic rays in the intergalactic medium. In contrast to charged cosmic rays, photon and neutrino arrival directions point to the production site because theyAdams, J. H. et al.
Advertised on:
112015 -
Science of atmospheric phenomena with JEM-EUSOThe main goal of the JEM-EUSO experiment is the study of Ultra High Energy Cosmic Rays (UHECR, 1019-1021 e V), but the method which will be used (detection of the secondary light emissions induced by cosmic rays in the atmosphere) allows to study other luminous phenomena. The UHECRs will be detected through the measurement of the emission in theAdams, J. H. et al.
Advertised on:
112015 -
JEM-EUSO: Meteor and nuclearite observationsMeteor and fireball observations are key to the derivation of both the inventory and physical characterization of small solar system bodies orbiting in the vicinity of the Earth. For several decades, observation of these phenomena has only been possible via ground-based instruments. The proposed JEM-EUSO mission has the potential to become theAdams, J. H. et al.
Advertised on:
112015 -
The EUSO-Balloon pathfinderEUSO-Balloon is a pathfinder for JEM-EUSO, the Extreme Universe Space Observatory which is to be hosted on-board the International Space Station. As JEM-EUSO is designed to observe Ultra-High Energy Cosmic Rays (UHECR)-induced Extensive Air Showers (EAS) by detecting their ultraviolet light tracks "from above", EUSO-Balloon is a nadir-pointing UVAdams, J. H. et al.
Advertised on:
112015 -
Ground-based tests of JEM-EUSO components at the Telescope Array site, "EUSO-TA"We are conducting tests of optical and electronics components of JEMEUSO at the Telescope Array site in Utah with a ground-based "EUSO-TA" detector. The tests will include an engineering validation of the detector, cross-calibration of EUSO-TA with the TA fluorescence detector and observations of air shower events. Also, the proximity of the TA'sAdams, J. H. et al.
Advertised on:
112015 -
Space experiment TUS on board the Lomonosov satellite as pathfinder of JEM-EUSOSpace-based detectors for the study of extreme energy cosmic rays (EECR) are being prepared as a promising new method for detecting highest energy cosmic rays. A pioneering space device - the "tracking ultraviolet set-up" (TUS) - is in the last stage of its construction and testing. The TUS detector will collect preliminary data on EECR in theAdams, J. H. et al.
Advertised on:
112015 -
The Rotation Period of C/2014 Q2 (Lovejoy)C/2014 Q2 (Lovejoy) was observed around perihelion (2015 January 30) on 15 nights between 2015 January 21 and February 11 using the TADer 0.3-m astrograph telescope at Teide Observatory (IAC, Tenerife, Spain). Two large spiral jet structures were observed over several cometary rotations. A new method of searching for periodicities in the PA ofSerra-Ricart, M. et al.
Advertised on:
112015 -
Physical properties of the extreme Centaur and super-comet candidate 2013 AZ60We present estimates of the basic physical properties including size and albedo of the extreme Centaur 2013 AZ60. These properties have been derived from optical and thermal infrared measurements. Our optical measurements revealed a probable full period of ≈9.4 h with a shallow amplitude of 4.5%. By combining optical brightness information andPál, A. et al.
Advertised on:
112015 -
On the Dust Environment of Main-Belt Comet 313P/GibbsWe present observations carried out using the 10.4 m Gran Telescopio Canarias and an interpretative model of the dust environment of activated asteroid 313 P/Gibbs. We discuss three different models relating to different values of the dust parameters, i.e., dust loss rate, maximum and minimum sizes of particles, power index of the size distributionPozuelos, F. J. et al.
Advertised on:
62015 -
Rotationally resolved spectroscopy of dwarf planet (136472) MakemakeContext. Icy dwarf planets are key for studying the chemical and physical states of ices in the outer solar system. The study of secular and rotational variations gives us hints of the processes that contribute to the evolution of their surface. Aims: The aim of this work is to search for rotational variability on the surface composition of theLorenzi, V. et al.
Advertised on:
52015 -
First EURONEAR NEA discoveries from La Palma using the INTSince 2006, the European Near Earth Asteroids Research (EURONEAR) project has been contributing to the research of near-Earth asteroids (NEAs) within a European network. One of the main aims is the amelioration of the orbits of NEAs, and starting in 2014 February we focus on the recovery of one-opposition NEAs using the Isaac Newton Telescope (INT)Vaduvescu, O. et al.
Advertised on:
52015 -
Possible ring material around centaur (2060) ChironWe propose that several short-duration events observed in past stellar occultations by Chiron were produced by ring material. Some similarities between these events and the characteristics of Chariklo's rings could indicate common mechanisms around centaurs. From a reanalysis of the stellar occultation data in the literature, we determined twoOrtiz, J. L. et al.
Advertised on:
42015 -
The binary near-Earth Asteroid (175706) 1996 FG3 - An observational constraint on its orbital evolutionUsing our photometric observations taken between April 1996 and January 2013 and other published data, we derived properties of the binary near-Earth Asteroid (175706) 1996 FG3 including new measurements constraining evolution of the mutual orbit with potential consequences for the entire binary asteroid population. We also refined previouslyScheirich, P. et al.
Advertised on:
12015 -
The infrared camera prototype characterization for the JEM-EUSO space missionJEM-EUSO (Extreme Universe Space Observatory on Japanese Experiment Module) is an advanced observatory that will be on-board the International Space Station (ISS) and use the Earth׳s atmosphere as a huge calorimeter detector. However, the atmospheric clouds introduce uncertainties in the signals measured by JEM-EUSO. Therefore, it is extremelyMorales de los Ríos, J. A. et al.
Advertised on:
62014 -
Blending the distinctions among groups of minor bodies: a portrait of the Centaur-comet "transition" object P/2010 C1 (Scotti)Aims: We present a portrait of the active Centaur P/2010 C1 (Scotti), observed with a well developed comet-like activity (central diffuse coma condensation and an extended sharp tail-like structure) at the heliocentric distance of rh = 5.5 AU. Methods: We analyse multicolour (B, V, R, and I) images taken at the TNG telescope to characterise theMazzotta Epifani, E. et al.
Advertised on:
52014 -
Rotationally resolved spectroscopy of (20000) Varuna in the near-infraredContext. Models of the escape and retention of volatiles by minor icy objects exclude any presence of volatile ices on the surface of trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs) smaller than ~1000 km in diameter at the typical temperature in this region of the solar system, whereas the same models show that water ice is stable on the surface of objects over aEmery, J. P. et al.
Advertised on:
22014
