A5052522234- Astro and Planetary Science
- Planetary Science and Exploration
- Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies
- Isotope Analysis in Ecology
- Astrophysics and Star Formation Studies
- Space Satellite Systems and Control
- Astronomy and Astrophysical Research
- Astronomical Observations and Instrumentation
- Gamma-ray bursts and supernovae
- Atmospheric Ozone and Climate
- Spacecraft Design and Technology
- Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
- Geological and Geochemical Analysis
- Nuclear Physics and Applications
- Spacecraft and Cryogenic Technologies
- Space Exploration and Technology
- Geomagnetism and Paleomagnetism Studies
- High-pressure geophysics and materials
- Laser-induced spectroscopy and plasma
- Geophysics and Gravity Measurements
- Solar and Space Plasma Dynamics
- Maritime and Coastal Archaeology
- Calibration and Measurement Techniques
- Distributed systems and fault tolerance
- Nuclear physics research studies
National Institute for Astrophysics
2008-2024
Astronomical Observatory of Rome
2009-2024
University of Bologna
2021-2022
Arcetri Astrophysical Observatory
2022
Osservatorio Astronomico di Padova
2022
Politecnico di Milano
2022
Physical Sciences (United States)
2022
Trieste Astronomical Observatory
2022
Sorbonne Université
2009-2021
Université Paris Cité
2009-2021
Abstract The NASA Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission performed a kinetic impact on asteroid Dimorphos, the satellite of binary (65803) Didymos, at 23:14 UTC 26 September 2022 as planetary defence test 1 . DART was first hypervelocity experiment an size and velocity scales relevant to defence, intended validate means deflection. Here we report determination momentum transferred by impact. On basis change in orbit period 2 , find instantaneous reduction Dimorphos’s along-track...
Abstract NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission was the first to demonstrate asteroid deflection, and mission's Level 1 requirements guided its planetary defense investigations. Here, we summarize DART's achievement of those requirements. On 2022 September 26, DART spacecraft impacted Dimorphos, secondary member Didymos near-Earth binary system, demonstrating an autonomously navigated kinetic impact into with limited prior knowledge for defense. Months subsequent Earth-based...
Abstract The Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) had an impact with Dimorphos (a satellite of the asteroid Didymos) on 26 September 2022 1 . Ground-based observations showed that Didymos system brightened by a factor 8.3 after because ejecta, returning to pre-impact brightness 23.7 days afterwards 2 Hubble Space Telescope made from 15 minutes 18.5 after, spatial resolution 2.1 kilometres per pixel, complex evolution ejecta 3 , consistent other events. momentum enhancement factor,...
Abstract Images collected during NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission provide the first resolved views of Didymos binary asteroid system. These images reveal that primary asteroid, Didymos, is flattened and has plausible undulations along its equatorial perimeter. At high elevations, surface rough contains large boulders craters; at low elevations smooth possesses fewer craters. Didymos’ moon, Dimorphos, an intimate mixture boulders, several asteroid-wide lineaments, a...
Abstract The SIMBIO-SYS (Spectrometer and Imaging for MPO BepiColombo Integrated Observatory SYStem) is a complex instrument suite part of the scientific payload Mercury Planetary Orbiter mission, last cornerstone missions European Space Agency (ESA) Horizon + science program. will provide all imaging capability spacecraft. It consists three channels: STereo Channel (STC), with broad spectral band in 400-950 nm range medium spatial resolution (at best 58 m/px), that Digital Terrain Model...
Abstract Asteroids smaller than 10 km are thought to be rubble piles formed from the reaccumulation of fragments produced in catastrophic disruption parent bodies. Ground-based observations reveal that some these asteroids today binary systems, which a secondary orbits larger primary asteroid. However, how became systems remains unclear. Here, we report analysis boulders on surface stony asteroid (65803) Didymos and its moonlet, Dimorphos, data collected by NASA DART mission. The...
Abstract Spacecraft observations revealed that rocks on carbonaceous asteroids, which constitute the most numerous class by composition, can develop millimeter-to-meter-scale fractures due to thermal stresses. However, signatures of this process second-most populous group S-complex, have been poorly constrained. Here, we report boulders’ Dimorphos, is moonlet S-complex asteroid (65803) Didymos, target NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) planetary defense mission. We show...
Since the orbital insertion of Rosetta spacecraft, comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko (67P/C-G) has been mapped by OSIRIS camera and VIRTIS spectro-imager, producing a huge quantity images spectra comet's nucleus. The aim this work is to search for presence H$_2$O on nucleus which, in general, appears very dark rich dehydrated organic material. After selecting bright spots which could be good candidates ice, taken at high resolution OSIRIS, we check spectral cubes selected coordinates identify...
<i>Context. <i/>The study of the surface properties Centaurs and trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs) provides essential information about early conditions evolution outer Solar System. Due to faintness most these distant icy bodies, photometry currently constitutes best technique survey a statistically significant number them.<i>Aims. <i/>Our aim is investigate color large sample minor bodies System, set their taxonomic classification.<i>Methods. <i/>We carried out visible near-infrared TNOs,...
Abstract We modeled the geometry and three-dimensional orientation of ejecta cone triggered by impact DART spacecraft on asteroid Dimorphos. used eight LUKE images acquired CubeSat LICIACube that flew Didymos system shortly after impact. These images, which show in both face-on side-on profiles, enabled us to reconstruct inertial space. started our model as a simple with circular base developed it rotated an elliptical best fit data. The axis points R.A., decl. (in J2000): <?CDATA...
Abstract The NASA Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) spacecraft impacted the moon Dimorphos of [65803] Didymos binary system and changed orbit period, demonstrating asteroid deflection by a kinetic impact indicating that more momentum was transferred to escaping ejecta than incident with DART. Images DART plume were obtained Light Italian cubesat for Imaging Asteroids (LICIACube) in first few minutes after impact. imaged LICIACube 158 s prior closest approach shows no evidence clearing...
Aims. We investigate color properties and define or check taxonomic classifications of objects observed in our survey.
A second large programme (LP) for the physical studies of TNOs and Centaurs, started at ESO Cerro Paranal on October 2006 to obtain high-quality data, has recently been concluded. In this paper we present spectra these pristine bodies obtained in visible range during last two semesters LP. We investigate spectral behaviour Centaurs observed, analyse slopes distribution full data set coming from LP literature. computed slope each observed object, searched possible weak absorption features....
Aims. We determine the physical properties (spin state and shape) of asteroid (21) Lutetia, target ESA Rosetta mission, to help in preparing for observations during flyby on 2010 July 10 by predicting orientation Lutetia as seen from Rosetta. Methods. use our novel KOALA inversion algorithm asteroids a combination optical lightcurves, disk-resolved images, stellar occultations, although latter are not available Lutetia. Results. find spin axis lie within 5 degrees ({\lambda} = 52 deg.,...
Context. The Hayabusa2 mission, which will be launched by JAXA in 2014, return samples from the C-type near-Earth asteroid (162173) 1999 JU3. To better plan it is important to obtain as many physical characteristics of possible ground-based observations. Moreover, these can then calibrated with in-situ and laboratory studies used understand other similar objects. Regarding surface composition target asteroid, previous spectroscopic visible provided conflicting results for presence a deep...
Context. The JAXA Hayabusa2 mission will perform the first ever sample return from a primitive asteroid. target near-Earth asteroid (162173) Ryugu be reached in mid-2018 and its samples returned to Earth by end of 2020. Aims. We want improve current knowledge compositional rotational properties Ryugu, which are still presenting some uncertainties that might affect operations scientific return. Methods. acquired high-quality photometric time-series data with FORS2 instrument at Very Large...
Abstract The smallest member of the Didymos binary near-Earth object system (Dimorphos) is target DART/LICIACube mission, first attempt to change orbit another celestial body via a kinetic impactor. It important characterize unperturbed prior DART impact. In this work we obtained, for time, spectral characterization at several rotational phases from TNG+DOLORES in visible range (0.34–0.81 μ m). This crucial order disentangle primary and secondary bodies highlight eventual dishomogeneities on...