PALS: Oriel Humes (Technische Universität Braunschweig), Explorations of Rotational Color Variability Among Asteroids

Explorations of Rotational Color Variability Among Asteroids

Oriel Humes
Postdoctoral Scholar
Technische Universität Braunschweig

Abstract: In this talk, I will discuss ongoing efforts to characterize rotational spectral variability on the large, ultra-red Main Belt asteroid (203) Pompeja during its previous and upcoming apparitions. Following this example, I will discuss the feasibility of detecting rotational spectral variability among the asteroid population in general using survey photometry. Given the state of current photometric modeling techniques, I argue that it is possible to identify asteroids with large rotational color variations using current and upcoming photometric surveys and explore the accuracy needed to characterize color variability of asteroids.

Special programming note - this PALS will be ending at 12:00 EST to accommodate the speaker's (transatlantic!) schedule.

Host:  Ben Sharkey