[meteorite-list] Arecibo Astronomers Prepare to Obtain Close Images of Asteroid 2007 TU24

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Fri, 25 Jan 2008 13:50:26 -0800 (PST)
Message-ID: <200801252150.NAA09539_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-01/cuc-aap012508.php

Public release date: 25-Jan-2008

Contact: Blaine Friedlander
bpf2 at cornell.edu
607-254-8093
Cornell University Communications

Arecibo astronomers prepare to obtain close images of a near-Earth asteroid

ITHACA, N.Y. - The Arecibo Observatory in Arecibo, Puerto Rico will
observe a newly discovered asteroid on Jan. 27-28, as the object called
2007 TU24 passes within 1.4 lunar distances, or 334,000 miles, from Earth.

The asteroid, estimated at between 150 and 600 meters in diameter -
about 500 feet to 1,900 feet, or the size of a football field, at 360
feet, to the size of Chicago's 110-story Sears Tower, at 1,454 feet -
was discovered by the University of Arizona's Catalina Sky Survey in
October 2007. It poses no threat to Earth, but its near approach gives
Arecibo astronomers a golden opportunity to learn more about potentially
hazardous near-Earth objects.

"We don't yet know anything about this asteroid," said Mike Nolan, head
of radar astronomy at the Puerto Rico observatory. Such objects pass
near Earth with relative frequency, he said - approximately one every
five years or so - but it's rare that astronomers have enough advance
notice to plan for rigorous observing.

"Because it's coming so close, we'll get our highest quality imaging,"
said Nolan.

Using Arecibo's powerful radar, which is the most sensitive in the
world, researchers will gauge the object's size, observe its speed and
measure its spin. Switching then to imaging mode, which will offer
resolution to 7.5 meters - three times more precise than NASA's
Goldstone telescope, the only other radar telescope in the world - the
researchers hope to map the object's surface in detail. The Robert C.
Byrd Green Bank Telescope, Green Bank, W.Va., will receive Arecibo's
echo from the asteroid and transmit its data back to Arecibo.

TU24 is one of an estimated 7,000 near-Earth objects, its size or larger
- most have never been closely studied.

"We have good images of a couple dozen objects like this, and for about
one in 10, we see something we've never seen before," said Nolan. "We
really haven't sampled the population enough to know what's out there."

Arecibo's radar is vital for continuing to classify and understand such
objects, said Cornell University assistant professor of astronomy
Jean-Luc Margot. "Arecibo does a fantastic job at getting images,
discovering the shape, spin and reflection properties of such an object
. . . all these things that are important to know.'

The telescope will be trained on TU24 Jan. 27-28 and again Feb. 1-4.
Goldstone's planetary radar observed it Jan. 23-24.

###

Steven Ostro, astronomer at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in
Pasadena, Calif., is principal investigator for the project; also
contributing are Lance Benner and Jon Giorgini at JPL and Greg Black of
the University of Virginia. Their research is funded by NASA.

The Arecibo Observatory is part of the National Astronomy and Ionosphere
Center, a national research center operated by Cornell for the National
Science Foundation. The Green Bank Telescope is operated by National
Radio Astronomy Observatory for the National Science Foundation.

 
Received on Fri 25 Jan 2008 04:50:26 PM PST