Engineering topics

Morrison, D.

Publications and source records attributed to Morrison, D..

At least 73 records · Page 4

NASA NTRS1977

Radiometric diameters of 84 asteroids from observations in 1974-1976

Diameters and geometric albedos are derived from 10- and 20-micron infrared photometry for 84 asteroids, 68 of them not previously observed in this program of asteroid radiometry. All but three of the 30 brightest asteroids are included in the total sample of 131 objects, and all asteroids with diameters greater than 250 km can now be identified. The albedos are strongly bimodal, with the great majority of asteroids (class C) having visual geometric albedos between 0.025 and 0.050. The albedos of the second most numerous class, the S asteroids, are primarily between 0.10 and 0.16. The third largest class appears to be the M objects, of which seven are now identified. Apparently, the M objects are very rare for semimajor axes of less than 2.4 AU. The unusual asteroids with albedos greater than 0.20 are also discussed.

Morrison, D.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Asteroid sizes and albedos

The radiometric method of determining asteroid diameters is described, and a synthesis of radiometric and polarimetric measurements of the diameters and geometric albedos of a total of 187 asteroids is presented. An analysis is offered of the size distributions of different albedo classes down to 80-km diameter for the entire main asteroid belt (2.0-3.5 AU). The distribution of albedos is found to be strongly bimodal, with mean albedos for the C and S group of 0.035 and 0.15, respectively. The C asteroids outnumber the S asteroids at all sizes and all values of semimajor axis, with the proportion of C asteroids increasing from a little over half inside 2.5 AU to more than 95% beyond 3.0 AU. Other aspects of the distribution of C, S, and M asteroids are discussed, and the total mass of main-belt asteroids larger than 70 km is estimated.

Morrison, D.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Diameters of minor planets

The paper discusses the tremendous improvements in measurements of the asteroids since 1970, when polarimetric and radiometric methods began to replace the visual methods. A table is given which gives the sizes and albedos of 187 of the larger asteroids. When the asteroids are sorted according to albedo, they are seen to fall into two distinct groups: C-type, or carbonaceous, asteroids, with albedos of 2-5%, and a group of primarily stony or silicate bodies, the S asteroids, clustered around an albedo of 15%. The majority of the asteroids are seen to be very dark, and the maximum density in the asteroid belt must lie somewhere beyond 3.0 astronomical units.

Morrison, D.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Galilean satellites - Anomalous temperatures disputed

Anomalous averaged infrared brightness temperatures of the Galilean satellites of Jupiter reported by Gross (1975) are rejected as falsely conceived and lacking physical reality. It is argued that the calculations of equilibrium temperatures should be corrected, whereupon predictions would be in satisfactory agreement with observations, in conformity with the radiometric method of determining the diameters of asteroids and satellites. The IR irradiance and the related disk-averaged brightness temperature for the spectral band are recommended as more relevant. Attention is drawn to some interesting discrepancies between calculated and observed temperatures of the Jovian satellites which merit further investigation.

Morrison, D.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Radiometry of satellites and of the rings of Saturn

Brightness temperatures at wavelengths between 8 microns and 3.7 cm are tabulated for satellites of known size; except for Titan, they are consistent with blackbody emission values. For Titan a more complex thermal radiation spectrum with three separate regimes is identified. Radiometric brightness measurements, when used in conjunction with photometry, are shown to determine satellite sizes and albedos; this technique is calibrated by using satellites and asteroids with radii evaluated from other methods. Eclipse radiometry indicates the thermophysical properties of surface layers; such observations show that the uppermost coverings of Phobos, Callisto, and Ganymede have remarkably low thermal conductivities. Infrared and radar detections of the rings of Saturn are surveyed; the important constraints that they provide on ring particle sizes and bulk composition are outlined.

Morrison, D.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Photometry of the Gallilean satellites

The dependence of the magnitudes and colors on both solar and orbital phase angles is derived from photometric observations of the Gallilean satellites. The rotational variations are best defined by the most recent observations; as a consequence of the complex albedo distributions on the satellites, the light curves cannot be represented by simple analytic expressions. The recent data also establish the mean magnitudes on the V photometric system to within + or - 0.02 magnitude and permit accurate geometric albedos to be derived. The dependence of magnitude on solar phase angle, and particularly at very small phase angles, is best shown by the extensive observations from 1926 and 1927. The determined rotational curves are used to reduce these data and express the phase effect in terms of a linear curve for phase angles greater than 6 deg and a quadratic curve for smaller angles. The phase dependence of these satellites is compared with that observed for other small bodies in the solar system; particularly interesting are the anomalously large phase coefficient and opposition effect of Io.

Morrison, D.↗

NASA NTRS1977

Sizes and albedos of the larger asteroids

The purpose of the present paper is to review all asteroid diameter measurements, current through mid-1976, and to combine them in a consistent way to give the best available estimates for a sample totalling 187 objects. From these diameters it is possible to determine the size-distributions of minor planets down to diameters of 50 km in the inner belt and 100 km in the outer belt. The associated albedos further indicate the distribution of objects of the C, S, and M classes throughout the belt.

Morrison, D.↗

NASA NTRS1976

The densities and bulk compositions of Ceres and Vesta

Present radiometric and polarimetric measurements of the sizes and albedos of asteroids 1 Ceres and 4 Vesta, although uncertain in absolute calibration, determine the ratio of diameters with sufficient precision (Ceres/Vesta = 1.87 plus or minus 0.03) to permit meaningful discussion of their relative densities. These measurements combined with the known masses yield a ratio of densities Vesta/Ceres = 1.33 plus or minus 0.17, thus demonstrating that: (1) the bulk compositions are likely different, and (2) the difference is consistent with indications from remotely-determined surface composition that Vesta is differentiated while Ceres may be of undifferentiated carbonaceous chondritic composition.

Morrison, D.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Pluto - Evidence for methane frost

Results are presented for infrared photometry of Pluto in the wavelength range from 1.2 to 2.2 microns, which includes the diagnostic absorption bands of water and methane frosts (designated as H1 and H2, respectively). Based on Pluto's observed J-H color and H1/H2 reflectance ratio as well as restrictions imposed by other observational and theoretical studies, it is concluded that methane frost is probably the dominant reflecting material on the planet's surface. It is suggested that this frost may be mixed with other materials, and some variation of the frost cover is indicated. Two plausible sources for the methane on Pluto are discussed, the average geometric albedo of the planet is assumed to be 0.4, and its diameter is estimated to be 3300 km.

Cruikshank, D. P.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Surface compositions of the satellites of Saturn from infrared photometry

JHKL photometry (1.2-3.5 microns) of Rhea, Dione, Tethys, and the high-albedo side of Iapetus reveals broadband spectral signatures essentially identical to those of the water-ice-covered surfaces of Ganymede and the rings of Saturn, although significantly different from either the surface of Europa or laboratory measurements of pure water ice. The dark side of Iapetus has more neutral infrared colors, indicative of a nonicy surface.

Morrison, D.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Mariner 10 infrared radiometer results - Temperatures and thermal properties of the surface of Mercury

Mariner 10 infrared brightness temperatures of the surface of Mercury at 11 and 45 microns are presented. The data were obtained during the first flyby along a near-equatorial swath extending from 17 hours local time through local midnight to 9 hours local time. For an assumed emissivity of 0.9, derived surface thermal inertias are between 0.0015 and 0.0031 cal/sq cm/sq root sec/K and the implied minimum predawn surface kinetic temperature for the warm pole at longitude 270 deg is near 93 K. Several pronounced thermal inhomogeneities were seen, one of which appears to coincide with a region of high radar reflectivity. The derived thermal properties, the electrical skin depth, and loss tangent fall within the range of values found on the moon.

Chase, S. C., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Can internal heat contribute to the high surface temperature of Venus

It is shown that current observational data on conditions at the Venusian surface are adequate to exclude the possibility that thermal energy from a hot interior contributes to the high surface temperature of the planet. The maximum energy flux conducted from the interior is estimated by assigning a maximum thermal conductivity and a minimum thickness to the crust. It is found that the crust must be at least 10 km thick and that the maximum thermal flux for this thickness is about 6 millionths of a calorie per sq cm/sec. The relative importance of this internal energy source is assessed by comparing it with the amount of solar energy deposited at the surface. The result demonstrates that the absorbed solar energy is at least one and probably two orders of magnitude higher than the minimum flux conducted from the interior. It is concluded that a very efficient atmospheric trapping mechanism (the greenhouse effect) is operating on Venus.

Morrison, D.↗

NASA NTRS1976

J, H, K photometry of 433 Eros and other asteroids

Results are reported for IR photometry of nine bright asteroids, including 433 Eros, which was conducted in the J, H, K, and (for Eros) L bands with an InSb photometer on the 1.3-m Kitt Peak telescope. It is found that the J-H and H-K color indices of all nine asteroids are slightly redder than those of the sun and that three C-type objects are somewhat redder in the same color indices than four S-types and an E-type. Eros is shown to have an unusually red J-K index; the shape of its IR spectral reflectance curve is attributed in part to the presence of the weak 2-micron pyroxene absorption band in the spectrum. The results show that JHK photometry is less diagnostic of asteroidal composition than higher-resolution IR spectrophotometry.

Chapman, C. R.↗

NASA NTRS1976

The diameter and thermal inertia of 433 Eros

Radiometry of Eros at 10 and 20 micrometers demonstrates that the thermal conductivity of the upper centimeter of the surface is approximately as low as that of the moon, suggesting that the asteroid has a regolith of highly porous rocky material. When combined with photoelectric photometry, these infrared measurements yield an effective diameter of Eros at maximum light of 22 plus or minus 2 km and a geometric albedo of 0.18 plus or minus 0.03.

Morrison, D.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Radiometric diameter and albedo of the remarkable asteroid 1976AA

It is pointed out that the minor planet 1976AA discovered on January 7, 1976, is the first asteroid found with an orbital period of less than a year. A description is given of a study in which the diameter and the albedo of the asteroid were determined with the aid of infrared radiometry. It is concluded that on the basis of its albedo 1976AA can probably be classed with the stony group of asteroids.

Morrison, D.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Radiometric diameters for an additional 22 asteroids

Ten-micron radiometry of 24 asteroids, 22 of which have not previously had their diameters and albedos determined, is presented. The magnitudes of the objects ranged from -0.35 to +5.35 and 13 of them had diameters smaller than 100 km. They ranged in albedo from 0.024 to 0.28, and the 22 previously unstudied objects included 10 C asteroids, seven S asteroids, three U asteroids, and two unknown. In the diameter-albedo plane, ten of the asteroids studied clustered near albedo 0.03 and diameter 100-200 km, in a region previously occupied by only seven asteroids but where Chapman et al. (1975) predicted many objects would be identified upon sampling those fainter than V equals about 12. The new data suggest that there are substantial numbers of S asteroids with diameter less than 100 km in the inner part of the belt.

Morrison, D.↗

NASA NTRS1975

Surface properties of asteroids - A synthesis of polarimetry, radiometry, and spectrophotometry

Surface compositions of 110 asteroids are analyzed using data obtained by polarimetry and visible and near-IR spectrophotometry. A comparison of albedos and diameters determined by polarimetry and radiometry indicates that a slight upward revision of the radiometric albedo scale is necessary. Reliable adopted albedos and diameters are presented for 56 objects, and rough diameters are obtained for 52 additional objects. More than 90% of the asteroids are shown to fall into two broad groups (C and S) which are compositionally similar to carbonaceous and stony meteorites, respectively. C-type asteroids are found to predominate in the asteroid belt, and the largest of these (Ceres, Pallas, Hygiea, Davida) may be metamorphosed. It is shown that Vesta may be the only differentiated asteroid remaining intact in the belt. The results support the conclusions that asteroids and meteorites have similar classes of mineral assemblages, but the distribution of asteroid types contrasts with the distribution of major meteorite types found on earth.

Chapman, C. R.↗

NASA NTRS1975

The two faces of Iapetus

Radiometric and photometric observations of Iapetus are described, and a model is developed for the albedo distribution consistent with the visual light curves, color variations, and radiometric flux curve. The 20-micron infrared observations show that the radiometric variation differs by about 180 deg in phase from the visual light curve and has a peak-to-peak amplitude of about a factor of two, while the linear phase coefficient of the light curve varies, as the satellite rotates, from 0.028 to 0.068 mag/deg. Determination of the albedo distribution is described, and it is found to be characterized by a dark area covering most of the leading hemisphere, a bright trailing hemisphere, and a bright south polar cap. The radius is approximated as 800 to 850 km, and the mean geometric albedos for the light and dark faces are estimated as 0.35 and 0.07, respectively.

Morrison, D.↗