Exploring Leftovers

1
Exploring Leftovers

• Nalin Samarasinha

Morphological Studies of Comae
Rotational Studies of Comets
Rotational Studies of Asteroids
2
Morphological Studies of Cometary Comae

• Comet Machholz (C/2004 Q2)
• Initial study published w/ basic spin
  properties (Farnham et al. 2007)
• Detailed analysis planned funding requested
• Comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3
• Initial study carried out for Component C
  (Storm et al. 2006 DPS 06)
• Detailed analysis planned funding requested
• A Critical Comparative Study of Image Enhancement
  Techniques
• Techniques for feature identification,
  measurements, what to avoid
• Manuscript in preparation (w/ S. Larson E.
  Beshore)

3
Rotational Studies of Comets

• Comet 9P/Tempel 1 (Target of Deep Impact NExT)
• Observations show period change over an
  apparition (w/ Mueller, Farnham, AHearn et al.)
• Characterizing Spin state changes by modeling
  ground space-based observations (w/ Gutierrez,
  Belton et al.) funding requested
• Comet 10P/Tempel 2
• Characterization of 10P/Tempel 2 spin state (w/
  Mueller)
• Comet 19P/Borrelly (Target of Deep Space 1)
• Derivation of precise spin period (w/ Mueller)

4
Rotational Studies of Asteroids

• Criteria for Rotational Excitation of Small
  Bodies
• A solid analytical derivation of the timescale
  for rotational excitation confirmed with
  numerical simulations
• A manuscript submitted detailing how
  rotational excitation and damping could be used
  to derive structural properties of NEOs
• YORP Torques
• Effects of YORP torques on spin states of
  sub-km sized asteroids (DPS 07)
• How spin changes/ excitations could affect
  orbital dynamics?
• Distribution of Spin Axes of Asteroids
• Spin axes distributions in the orbital
  elements space