Turning Asteroids into Comets with ELTs

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

It is clear that ELTs will be able to detect extremely weak outgassing from Solar system bodies via a number of different methods. Occultations will allow probing for outgassing around 20 km main-belt asteroids. Imaging can reveal dust emission rates of only milligrams/second in the inner solar system, while sublimation rates of gasses should be measurable down to gram/second levels. Suitable targets will be identified via the coming all-sky surveys, through both the classical dynamical Tisserand Invariant and long-baseline lightcurves. It is possible that using these methods, ELTs may allow the discovery of much more activity throughout the Solar system than is presently known.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)181-186
Number of pages6
JournalEarth Moon And Planets
Volume105
Issue number2-4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2009

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Earth and Planetary Sciences (miscellaneous)
  • Space and Planetary Science
  • Astronomy and Astrophysics

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