Low-inclination near-earth asteroid (NEA) (297274) 1996 SK, which isalso classified as a potentially hazardous asteroid, has a highly eccentric orbit. Itwas studied by multi-wavelength photometry within the framew...Low-inclination near-earth asteroid (NEA) (297274) 1996 SK, which isalso classified as a potentially hazardous asteroid, has a highly eccentric orbit. Itwas studied by multi-wavelength photometry within the framework of an NEA colorsurvey at Lulin Observatory. Here, we report the finding of large color variationacross the surface of (297274) 1996 SK within one asteroidal rotation period of4.656 ± 0.122 hours and classify it as an S-type asteroid according to its averagecolors ofB - V = 0.767 ± 0.033, V - R = 0.482 ± 0.021, V - I = 0.801 ± 0.025and the corresponding relative reflectance spectrum. These results might be indica-tive of differential space weathering or compositional inhomogeneity in the surfacematerials.展开更多
基金partially supported by Project 019/2010/A2 of the Macao Science and Technology Development Fund:MSAR No.0166Taiwan Ministry of Education under the Aim for Top University Program NCULulin Observatory is operated by the Institute of Astronomy,National Central University,Taiwan,under grant NSC 96-2752-M-008-011-PAE
文摘Low-inclination near-earth asteroid (NEA) (297274) 1996 SK, which isalso classified as a potentially hazardous asteroid, has a highly eccentric orbit. Itwas studied by multi-wavelength photometry within the framework of an NEA colorsurvey at Lulin Observatory. Here, we report the finding of large color variationacross the surface of (297274) 1996 SK within one asteroidal rotation period of4.656 ± 0.122 hours and classify it as an S-type asteroid according to its averagecolors ofB - V = 0.767 ± 0.033, V - R = 0.482 ± 0.021, V - I = 0.801 ± 0.025and the corresponding relative reflectance spectrum. These results might be indica-tive of differential space weathering or compositional inhomogeneity in the surfacematerials.