Extending a Spectroscopic Survey of Main Belt Asteroids With Micro Telescopes: A Proof of Concept Project (Abstract)

Volume 37 number 2 (2009)

Robert Stephens

Ralph Megna

Abstract

(Abstract only) In 2002, Schelte J. Bus and Richard P. Binzel proposed a new taxonomy for main belt asteroids based on slope values over segments of the spectral curve; this new classification system has started to gain general acceptance. Their analysis was based on spectrographic data gathered in the late 1980s and early 1990s at Kitt Peak Observatory on research instruments of 2.4 and 1.3 meters in aperture. Most of the original 1,447 asteroids were each observed on a single night. A few, which were observed on multiple nights, exhibited unexplained variations. Spectra and photometric color studies have been done of some asteroids since then, mostly as studies of dynamical families. The authors have undertaken a “proof of concept” project to explore and resolve the technical challenges associated with re-observing some of these asteroids and extending the survey beyond the original targets using small telescopes. Employing a commercially-made 0.36-meter catadioptric telescope and camera/ spectroscope combination, the authors have attempted to reproduce some of the curves from asteroids included in the Bus and Binzel papers. Their work has focused on demonstrating the fidelity and repeatability of a data capture and analysis process on targets of at least 13th magnitude. The authors profile the hardware and software used to conduct the proof of concept project, techniques for data collection and analysis, and review the results of their work to date.