Collaborative Research: A gravitational inventory of the solar system using high precision minor planet astrometry

合作研究：利用高精度小行星天体测量法对太阳系进行引力盘查

• 批准号: 2206194
• 负责人: Matthew Holman
• 金额: $ 29.33万
• 依托单位: Smithsonian Institution Astrophysical Observatory
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2022-09-01 至 2025-08-31
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2206194&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; gravitational; inventory; solar

The NSF's Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) will use the Vera C. Rubin Observatory to image over half the sky during 2023-2033. The investigators will improve the accuracy of sky position measurements for minor planets, allowing them to be used as "test particles" for exploring the gravitational forces in the solar system. The highly precise positions of these bodies will be used to study the potential gravitational effects of “planet X,” which might exist in the outer solar system. This work will indirectly benefit other astronomers by substantially improving the accuracy of LSST measurements of the motions of stars and planets. The program will involve young scientists from under-represented groups in astrophysical research at both the University of Pennsylvania and the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics and will support one graduate student at each institution. It will expand participation in summer research for undergraduates at Penn through a program directed at bringing first-generation / low-income undergraduates into research. By combining millions of LSST observations of thousands of Trojans, the effective motion of these objects over 10 years can be measured to 10-meter accuracy. Combined with ranging data from spacecraft at Jupiter and Saturn, a more accurate and specific understanding of gravity in the outer solar system will be possible by watching the Trojans complete an orbit around the Sun over LSST's lifetime. Accuracy below 1 meter will be obtained from the 200,000 brightest main belt asteroids (MBAs). This collective measurement accuracy allows detection of the gravity of a "Planet X" lurking undiscovered in the outer solar system. Close passages between the test particles will allow determination of the masses of perhaps 10 Trojans and 150-250 MBAs. By combining the signals all the mutual encounters, it should be possible to measure the mean relation between mass and brightness for MBAs down to about 15 km diameter and Trojans down to about 50 km diameter.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

美国国家科学基金会的空间和时间遗产调查（LSST）将使用Vera C。鲁宾天文台将在2023-2033年期间拍摄半个天空。研究人员将提高小行星天空位置测量的准确性，使它们能够用作探索太阳系引力的“测试粒子”。这些天体的高度精确位置将用于研究可能存在于外太阳系的“行星X”的潜在引力效应。 这项工作将通过大幅提高LSST测量恒星和行星运动的准确性而间接使其他天文学家受益。该计划将涉及来自宾夕法尼亚大学和哈佛-史密森天体物理中心天体物理研究中代表性不足群体的年轻科学家，并将支持每个机构的一名研究生。它将通过一个旨在将第一代/低收入本科生纳入研究的计划，扩大宾夕法尼亚大学本科生夏季研究的参与。通过结合数以百万计的LSST观测成千上万的特洛伊，这些物体在10年内的有效运动可以测量到10米的精度。结合木星和土星航天器的测距数据，通过观察特洛伊人在LSST的一生中完成围绕太阳的轨道，可以更准确和具体地了解外太阳系的引力。将从20万颗最明亮的主带小行星（MBA）中获得1米以下的精度。这种集体测量精度允许检测潜伏在外太阳系中未被发现的“行星X”的重力。测试颗粒之间的紧密通道将允许测定大约10个特洛伊人和150-250个MBA的质量。通过结合所有相互遭遇的信号，应该可以测量直径小于15公里的MBA和直径小于50公里的特洛伊木马的质量和亮度之间的平均关系。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

项目成果

Using Neural Networks to Model Main Belt Asteroid Albedos as a Function of Their Proper Orbital Elements

使用神经网络模拟主带小行星反照率作为其适当轨道元素的函数

• DOI: 10.3847/psj/acd381
• 发表时间: 2023
• 期刊: The Planetary Science Journal
• 作者: Murray, Zachary

Can the Gravitational Effect of Planet X be Detected in Current-era Tracking of the Known Major and Minor Planets?

当前时代对已知主要和小行星的跟踪能否检测到 X 行星的引力效应？

• DOI: 10.3847/psj/acc7a2
• 发表时间: 2023
• 期刊: The Planetary Science Journal
• 作者: Gomes, Daniel C. H.;Murray, Zachary;Gomes, Rafael C. H.;Holman, Matthew J.;Bernstein, Gary M.
• 通讯作者: Bernstein, Gary M.