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arXiv · 1106.0564

Detection of radiation pressure acting on 2009 BD

Marco Micheli·David J. Tholen·Garrett T. Elliott
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Abstract

We report the direct detection of radiation pressure on the asteroid 2009 BD, one of the smallest multi-opposition near-Earth objects currently known, with H ~ 28.4. Under the purely gravitational model of NEODyS the object is currently considered a possible future impactor, with impact solutions starting in 2071. The detection of a radiation-related acceleration allows us to estimate an Area to Mass Ratio (AMR) for the object, that can be converted (under some assumptions) into a range of possible values for its average density. Our result AMR = (2.97 \pm 0.33) x 10^(-4) m^2 kg^(-1) is compatible with the object being of natural origin, and it is narrow enough to exclude a man-made nature. The possible origin of this object, its future observability, and the importance of radiation pressure in the impact monitoring process, are also discussed.

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Marco Micheli, David J. Tholen, Garrett T. Elliott. 2011-06-03. Detection of radiation pressure acting on 2009 BD. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.newast.2011.11.008

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