Near-Infrared Studies of Small Asteroids

95-30282宾泽尔博士将使用一台新的最先进的光谱仪和美国国家航空航天局的红外线望远镜设施，对小行星进行为期5年的红外光谱分析。该光谱仪覆盖了0.9至1.8微米的波长范围，并将允许将观测小行星的观测极限提高至少两个数量级，比以前的观测要弱。光谱仪是由首席调查员通过之前的美国国家科学基金会总统青年调查员奖(AST90-58462)设计、购买和测试的。这些观测的科学目标是多方面的。其中包括确定与普通球粒陨石和玄武岩非球粒陨石类似的小行星，对近地小行星的成分特性范围进行采样，以及调查小行星中不寻常的矿物学。支持可见光波长的光谱将通过美国国家航空航天局资助的亚利桑那州基特峰的单独观测计划获得。调查的最终目的是提高我们对陨石和小行星主要类别之间关系的了解，并促进我们对行星形成和演化的理解*

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 ***