E. Mazzotta Epifani
A5066516985- Astro and Planetary Science
- Planetary Science and Exploration
- Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies
- Isotope Analysis in Ecology
- Space Exploration and Technology
- Astrophysics and Star Formation Studies
- Atmospheric Ozone and Climate
- Spacecraft Design and Technology
- Spacecraft and Cryogenic Technologies
- Space Satellite Systems and Control
- Gamma-ray bursts and supernovae
- Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
- Astronomical Observations and Instrumentation
- Nuclear Physics and Applications
- Solar and Space Plasma Dynamics
- High-pressure geophysics and materials
- Space exploration and regulation
- Astronomy and Astrophysical Research
- Space Science and Extraterrestrial Life
- Astronomical and nuclear sciences
- Spaceflight effects on biology
- Calibration and Measurement Techniques
- Geological and Geochemical Analysis
- Ionosphere and magnetosphere dynamics
- Geophysics and Gravity Measurements
Astronomical Observatory of Rome
2016-2025
National Institute for Astrophysics
2014-2025
Osservatorio Astronomico di Padova
2022
Arcetri Astrophysical Observatory
2022
Politecnico di Milano
2022
Physical Sciences (United States)
2022
Trieste Astronomical Observatory
2022
Astronomical Observatory of Capodimonte
2006-2016
University of Naples Federico II
1999-2002
Polish Academy of Sciences
1998
Abstract During its approach to asteroid (101955) Bennu, NASA’s Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security-Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) spacecraft surveyed Bennu’s immediate environment, photometric properties, rotation state. Discovery of a dusty natural satellite, or unexpected characteristics would have had consequences for the mission’s safety observation strategy. Here we show that observations during this period were highly sensitive satellites (sub-meter...
Critical measurements for understanding accretion and the dust/gas ratio in solar nebula, where planets were forming 4.5 billion years ago, are being obtained by GIADA (Grain Impact Analyser Dust Accumulator) experiment on European Space Agency's Rosetta spacecraft orbiting comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. Between 3.6 3.4 astronomical units inbound, OSIRIS (Optical, Spectroscopic, Infrared Remote Imaging System) detected 35 outflowing grains of mass 10(-10) to 10(-7) kilograms, 48 10(-5)...
ABSTRACT The Rosetta probe, orbiting Jupiter-family comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko, has been detecting individual dust particles of mass larger than 10 −10 kg by means the GIADA collector and OSIRIS Wide Angle Camera Narrow since 2014 August will continue until 2016 September. Detections single allow us to estimate anisotropic flux from 67P, infer loss rate size distribution at surface sunlit nucleus, see whether 67P evolves in time. velocity orbiter, relative is much lower measured GIADA,...
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...
Some active asteroids have been proposed to be formed as a result of impact events1. Because are generally discovered by chance only after their tails fully formed, the process how ejecta evolve into tail has, our knowledge, not directly observed. The Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission NASA2, in addition having successfully changed orbital period Dimorphos3, demonstrated activation an asteroid resulting from under precisely known conditions. Here we report observations DART with...
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,...
On September 26, 2022, NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission successfully impacted Dimorphos, the natural satellite of binary near-Earth asteroid (65803) Didymos. Numerical simulations impact provide a means to explore target surface material properties and structures, consistent with observed momentum deflection efficiency, ejecta cone geometry, ejected mass. Our simulation, which best matches observations, indicates that Dimorphos is weak, cohesive strength less than few...
Abstract Dimorphos was the target of Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission. This paper summarizes properties an updated shape model Dimorphos, describes differences between and earlier version published by Daly, Ernst, Barnouin et al. (doi: 10.1038/s41586-023-05810-5 ), data products associated with this model, explains where can be accessed. The benefited from improved methods incorporating limb information, which will accelerate future modeling efforts for other objects limited...
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...
The Grain Impact Analyzer and Dust Accumulator (GIADA) instrument on board ESA's Rosetta mission is constraining the origin of dust particles detected within coma comet 67 P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko (67P). collected belong to two families: (i) compact (ranging in size from 0.03 1 mm), witnessing presence materials that underwent processing solar nebula (ii) fluffy aggregates 0.2 2.5 mm) sub-micron grains may be a record primitive component, probably linked interstellar dust. dynamics constrain...
HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access archive for the deposit and dissemination of scientific research documents, whether they are published or not.The documents may come from teaching institutions in France abroad, public private centers.L'archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de scientifiques niveau recherche, publiés ou non, émanant des établissements d'enseignement recherche français étrangers, laboratoires publics privés.
Context. During the period between 15 September 2014 and 4 February 2015, Rosetta spacecraft accomplished circular orbit phase around nucleus of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko (67P). The Grain Impact Analyzer Dust Accumulator (GIADA) onboard monitored 67P coma dust environment for entire period.
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...
Context. The ESA Rosetta spacecraft will reach the short-period comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko in 2014. Orbiting strategy, orbiter safety conditions, landing scenarios and expected results from dust collectors depend on models of 67P environment. Many papers already tackled this matter, analysing a limited set observations, therefore often reaching conflicting conclusions.
On 2016 Feb 19, nine Rosetta instruments serendipitously observed an outburst of gas and dust from the nucleus comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. Among these were cameras spectrometers ranging UV over visible to microwave wavelengths, in situ gas, plasma instruments, one collector. At 09:40 a cloud developed at edge image shadowed region nucleus. Over next two hours recorded signature that significantly exceeded background. The enhancement ranged 50 per cent neutral density factors >100...
Abstract We performed photometric observations of the binary near-Earth asteroid (65803) Didymos in support Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission that will test Kinetic Impactor technology for diverting dangerous asteroids. It hit secondary, called Dimorphos, on 2022 September 26. observed with 11 telescopes diameters from 3.5 to 10.4 m during four apparitions 2015–2021, obtaining data rms residuals 0.006 0.030 mag. analyzed light-curve and decomposed them into primary rotational...