The Inhomogeneous Surface of Centaur 32522 Thereus (2001 PT13)

Licandro, J.; Pinilla-Alonso, Noemí
Referencia bibliográfica

The Astrophysical Journal, Volume 630, Issue 1, pp. L93-L96.

Fecha de publicación:
9
2005
Número de autores
2
Número de autores del IAC
1
Número de citas
18
Número de citas referidas
17
Descripción
Eight low-resolution near-infrared spectra (0.8-2.4 μm) of 32522 Thereus were obtained on 2002 August 28 from 0:30 to 5:30 UT, covering more than half of its rotation period, with the 3.56 m Telescopio Nazionale Galileo (TNG) at El Roque de los Muchachos Observatory (ORM, Canary Islands, Spain). All the spectra are red, probably due to a mantle of organic materials resulting from long-term irradiation. During at least 1.5 hr, the spectra clearly present the typical water ice absorption bands at 1.5 and 2.0 μm indicative of an inhomogeneous surface with a major concentration of water ice in part of it. One possible scenario is that a collision destroyed part of the irradiation mantle and moved ice from below to the surface, part of the material being vaporized over the surface by the impact.