Near-Infrared Studies of Small Asteroids

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95-30282 Binzel Dr. Binzel will carry out a 5-year project of infrared spectroscopy of asteroids using a new, state-of-the-art spectrograph and the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility, Mauna Kea, HI. The spectrograph covers the wavelength range of 0.9 to 1.8 microns and will permit pushing the observational limits for observing asteroids by at least two magnitudes fainter than previous observations. The spectrograph was designed, purchased, and tested by the Principal Investigator through a previous NSF Presidential Young Investigator award (AST 90-58462). The scientific goals of the observations are manifold. They include identifying asteroid analogs for ordinary chondrite and basaltic achondrite meteorites, sampling the range of compositional properties of near-Earth asteroids, and investigating unusual mineralogies among the asteroids. Supporting visible wavelength spectra will be obtained via a separate NASA-funded observing program at Kitt Peak, AZ. The ultimate objective of the investigation is to improve our knowledge of the relationship between the principal classes of meteorites and asteroids, and to advance our understanding of the formation and evolution of the planets ***