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General
Este Proyecto estudia las propiedades físicas y composicionales de los llamados pequeños cuerpos del Sistema Solar, que incluyen asteroides, objetos helados y cometas. Entre los grupos de mayor interés destacan los objetos trans-neptunianos (TNOs), incluyendo los objetos más lejanos detectados hasta la fecha (Extreme-TNOs o ETNOs); los cometas, y los objetos transicionales cometa-asteroide (Centauros y los llamados Main Belt Comets - MBCs); los asteroides primitivos. Los dos últimos grupos contienen el material más primordial y prístino del Sistema Solar son claves para comprender su origen y evolución. Se destacan entre los asteroides aquellos que se acercan a la órbita de la Tierra (near-Earth asteroids o NEAs), así como los considerados potencialmente peligrosos (Potentially Hazardous Asteroids o PHAs). Debido a su cercanía, los NEAs son los objetos más accesibles al estudio in-situ con misiones espaciales y su futura explotación como fuente de materias primas (asteroid mining). Se destaca el liderazgo por parte del IP del grupo de un survey espectroscópico (visible e infrarrojo cercano) de asteroids primitivos (PRIMitive Asteroid Spectroscopic Survey - PRIMASS). Este proyecto ha recibido financiación de la NASA (17-PDART17_2-0097, IP: N. Pinilla-Alonso, 137.000€ - 2 años) para archivar todos estos espectros (más de 800) en el Small Bodies Node del NASA Planetary Data System.
Los estudios de composición superficial y propiedades físicas y térmicas de estos cuerpos se llevan a cabo utilizando espectroscopia en un amplio rango de longitudes de onda (desde 0.35 a 24 micras), así como imagen y fotometría en el mismo rango. Los datos se interpretan utilizando modelos de scattering y termo-físicos. El proyecto trabaja además en el análisis de las propiedades físicas de los núcleos cometarios y de las propiedades del polvo y el gas en las comas cometarias, muy especialmente en el estudio del polvo en las colas de los MBCs y de los mecanismos por los cuales se emite.
Este grupo mantiene diversas colaboraciones internacionales con otros grupos entre las que podemos destacar: (1) la pertenencia al Grupo de Ciencia de la misión de NASA OSIRIS-REx, en concreto al "Image Processing Working Group", en donde se encarga del tratamiento de los mapas de color que se están obteniendo actualmente con las cámaras OCAMS; (2) la pertenencia al núcleo central de proponentes de las misiones M5 de ESA CASTALIA, CASTAway y Hera; (3) la coordinación de un grupo internacional de estudio de NEAs llamado EURONEAR (European Near Earth Asteroid Research); (4) la pertenencia al "Center for Lunar and Asteroid Surface Science" (CLASS, NASA); (5) la integración en el grupo de Sistema Solar de la misión Euclid; (6) la participación activa en los surveys J-PLUS y J-PASS, en los que trabaja en la explotación de las observaciones de objetos del Sistema Solar; (7) la pertenencia a los grupos de trabajo de Sistema Solar de los telescopios Gaia y JWST.
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Actividad científica
Publicaciones relacionadas
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Structures in the dust coma of comet C/1999 T1 (McNaught-Hartley) from Jan. 26 to Feb. 05, 2001Aims: An in depth analysis of the images acquired in broad-band optical and infrared observations in the R, I, and J, H, Ks bands of comet C/199T1 (McNaught-Hartley) acquired from Jan. 26 to Feb. 05, 2001 has been performed and is presented here. Methods: Beside the Laplace filtering technique applied to enhance structures in the dust coma of theLara, L. M. et al.
Fecha de publicación:
42009 -
Stardust-NExT, Deep Impact, and the accelerating spin of 9P/Tempel 1The evolution of the spin rate of Comet 9P/Tempel 1 through two perihelion passages (in 2000 and 2005) is determined from 1922 Earth-based observations taken over a period of 13 year as part of a World-Wide observing campaign and from 2888 observations taken over a period of 50 days from the Deep Impact spacecraft. We determine the followingBelton, Michael J. S. et al.
Fecha de publicación:
52011 -
Spitzer observations of the asteroid-comet transition object and potential spacecraft target 107P (4015) Wilson-HarringtonContext: Near-Earth asteroid-comet transition object 107P/ (4015) Wilson-Harrington is a possible target of the joint European Space Agency (ESA) and Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Marco Polo sample return mission. Physical studies of this object are relevant to this mission, and also to understanding its asteroidal or cometary natureLicandro, J. et al.
Fecha de publicación:
122009 -
Spitzer observations of spacecraft target 162173 (1999 JU3)Context: Near-Earth asteroid 162173 (1999 JU3) is the primary target of the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Hayabusa-2 sample return mission, and is also on the list of potential targets for the European Space Agency (ESA) Marco Polo sample return mission. Earth-based studies of this object are fundamental to these missions. Aims: OurCampins, H. et al.
Fecha de publicación:
82009 -
Spectroscopy of B-type asteroids: Subgroups and meteorite analogsB-type asteroids have a negative slope from ˜0.5 to ˜1.1 μm and beyond. What causes this? Visible to near-infrared reflectance spectra (0.4-2.5 μm) are assembled for 22 B-type asteroids. The spectra fall naturally into three groups: (1) those with negative (blue) spectral shapes like 2 Pallas (7 objects), (2) those with concave curve shapes like 24Clark, Beth Ellen et al.
Fecha de publicación:
62010 -
Spectral properties of asteroids in cometary orbitsAims: In this paper we analyze the spectra of a sample of asteroids in cometary orbits (ACOs) in order to understand the relationship between them, the Jupiter family comets (JFCs), and the outer main belt populations, such as Hilda, Trojan and Cybele asteroids. Methods: We obtained visible (0.55-0.90 μm) and/or near-infrared (0.8-2.3 μm) spectraLicandro, J. et al.
Fecha de publicación:
42008 -
Rotational fission of trans-Neptunian objects: the case of HaumeaWe present several lines of evidence, based on different kinds of observations, and we conclude that it is likely that rotational fission has occurred for a fraction of the known trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs). It is also likely that a number of binary systems have formed from that process in the trans-Neptunian belt. We show that Haumea isOrtiz, J. L. et al.
Fecha de publicación:
12012 -
Physical properties and orbital stability of the Trojan asteroidsAll the Trojan asteroids orbit about the Sun at roughly the same heliocentric distance as Jupiter. Differences in the observed visible reflection spectra range from neutral to red, with no ultra-red objects found so far. Given that the Trojan asteroids are collisionally evolved, a certain degree of variability is expected. Additionally, cosmicMelita, M. D. et al.
Fecha de publicación:
62008 -
Origin of the near-Earth asteroid Phaethon and the Geminids meteor showerAims: In this paper we establish a compositional and dynamical connection between two B-type objects: main belt asteroid (2) Pallas and near-Earth asteroid (3200) Phaethon. The final purpose is to help understand the origin of this very interesting object. Methods: We first compare visible and near-infrared spectra of asteroids Phaethon and Pallasde León, J. et al.
Fecha de publicación:
42010 -
Observations, compositional, and physical characterization of near-Earth and Mars-crosser asteroids from a spectroscopic surveyAims: We analyse a significantly large sample of spectroscopic data to provide a compositional characterization of the near-Earth asteroid population. We present visible and near-infrared spectra of a total of 74 near-Earth asteroids (NEAs) and Mars-crossers (MCs), covering the wavelength region from 0.5 to 2.5 μm. Using spectra of NEAs from otherde León, J. et al.
Fecha de publicación:
72010 -
New observations of asteroid (175706) 1996 FG3, primary target of the ESA Marco Polo-R missionContext. Near-Earth asteroid (175706) 1996 FG3 is the primary target of the ESA Marco Polo-R mission, which was selected for the assessment study phase of ESA M3 missions. This is a primitive (C-type), binary asteroid that will allow new research to be performed. The primary is a rapidly rotating (3.6 h) small asteroid (1.4 km diameter) that isde León, J. et al.
Fecha de publicación:
62011 -
Near-infrared spectroscopy of primitive asteroid familiesWe compare 13 near-infrared (0.8-2.4 μm) spectra of two low albedo C complex outer-belt asteroid families: Themis and Veritas. The disruption ages of these two families lie at opposite extremes: 2.5 ± 1.0 Gyr and 8.7 ± 1.7 Myr, respectively. We found striking differences between the two families, which show a range of spectral shapes and slopesZiffer, Julie et al.
Fecha de publicación:
62011 -
Near-infrared spectroscopic survey of B-type asteroids: Compositional analysisWe present near-infrared spectra of 23 B-type asteroids obtained with the NICS camera-spectrograph at the 3.56 m Telescopio Nazionale Galileo. We also compile additional visible and near-infrared spectra of another 22 B-type asteroids from the literature. A total of 45 B-types are analyzed. No significant trends in orbital properties of our samplede León, J. et al.
Fecha de publicación:
32012 -
MarcoPolo-R near earth asteroid sample return missionMarcoPolo-R is a sample return mission to a primitive Near-Earth Asteroid (NEA) proposed in collaboration with NASA. It will rendezvous with a primitive NEA, scientifically characterize it at multiple scales, and return a unique sample to Earth unaltered by the atmospheric entry process or terrestrial weathering. MarcoPolo-R will return bulkBarucci, Maria Antonietta et al.
Fecha de publicación:
42012 -
Low Perihelion Near-Earth AsteroidsWe present initial results from a study of a sample of low-perihelion near-Earth asteroids (NEAs) using the Infrared Spectrograph (IRS) on NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope. The 7-14 μm thermal emission spectra have been fitted with models of the thermal continuum to derive the asteroid’s effective diameter, geometric albedo and beaming parameter ηCampins, Humberto et al.
Fecha de publicación:
92009 -
Links between the dynamical evolution and the surface color of the CentaursContext. The Centaurs are a transitional population of minor bodies of the solar system and the evolutionary link between the trans-Neptunian objects and the short period comets. The surface properties of these objects are very peculiar, because currently available data suggest that their visual surface colors divide the population into twoMelita, M. D. et al.
Fecha de publicación:
32012 -
Lightcurves of 6 Jupiter Trojan asteroidsFrom the point of view of the intrinsic rotation, the Jupiter Trojans are not as well characterized as the main belt asteroids, primarily because the available sample of lightcurves is small and mainly restricted to the largest objects. We have obtained rotational periods and lightcurve amplitudes for 6 Trojan asteroids, which range between valuesMelita, M. D. et al.
Fecha de publicación:
62010 -
Evolution of the dust coma in comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko before the 2009 perihelionContext. Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko is the main target of ESA's Rosetta mission and will be encountered in May 2014. Because the spacecraft will orbit the comet nucleus before and after release of the lander Philae, it is necessary to know the conditions in the coma. Aims: We study the dust environment, including the dust production rate andTozzi, G. P. et al.
Fecha de publicación:
72011 -
EURONEAR—Recovery, follow-up and discovery of NEAs and MBAs using large field 1-2 m telescopesWe report on the follow-up and recovery of 100 program NEAs, PHAs and VIs using the ESO/MPG 2.2 m, Swope 1 m and INT 2.5 m telescopes equipped with large field cameras. The 127 fields observed during 11 nights covered 29 square degrees. Using these data, we present the incidental survey work which includes 558 known MBAs and 628 unknown movingVaduvescu, O. et al.
Fecha de publicación:
102011 -
EPOXI: Comet 103P/Hartley 2 Observations from a Worldwide CampaignEarth- and space-based observations provide synergistic information for space mission encounters by providing data over longer timescales, at different wavelengths and using techniques that are impossible with an in situ flyby. We report here such observations in support of the EPOXI spacecraft flyby of comet 103P/Hartley 2. The nucleus is smallMeech, K. J. et al.
Fecha de publicación:
62011
