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arXiv · 1210.0502

Physical Parameters of Asteroids Estimated from the WISE 3 Band Data and NEOWISE Post-Cryogenic Survey

A. Mainzer·T. Grav·J. Masiero·J. Bauer·R. M. Cutri·R. S. McMillan·C. R. Nugent·D. Tholen·R. Walker·E. L. Wright
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Abstract

Enhancements to the science data processing pipeline of NASA's Wide-field Infrared Explorer (WISE) mission, collectively known as NEOWISE, resulted in the detection of $>$158,000 minor planets in four infrared wavelengths during the fully cryogenic portion of the mission. Following the depletion of its cryogen, NASA's Planetary Science Directorate funded a four month extension to complete the survey of the inner edge of the Main Asteroid Belt and to detect and discover near-Earth objects (NEOs). This extended survey phase, known as the NEOWISE Post-Cryogenic Survey, resulted in the detection of $\sim$6500 large Main Belt asteroids and 88 NEOs in its 3.4 and 4.6 $\mu$m channels. During the Post-Cryogenic Survey, NEOWISE discovered and detected a number of asteroids co-orbital with the Earth and Mars, including the first known Earth Trojan. We present preliminary thermal fits for these and other NEOs detected during the 3-Band Cryogenic and Post-Cryogenic Surveys.

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A. Mainzer, T. Grav, J. Masiero, J. Bauer, R. M. Cutri, R. S. McMillan, C. R. Nugent, D. Tholen, R. Walker, E. L. Wright. 2012-10-01. Physical Parameters of Asteroids Estimated from the WISE 3 Band Data and NEOWISE Post-Cryogenic Survey. https://doi.org/10.1088/2041-8205/760/1/l12

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