MUINONEN , K.

Context. Sparse photometric data can be used to determine the spin properties and infer information about the shapes of asteroids. The algorithm adopted for the inversion of Gaia photometric data assumes, for the sake of simplicity and to minimize CPU execution time, that the objects have triaxial ellipsoid shapes. In the past, this algorithm...

Advances in Space Research, 37, pp. 153-160, http://dx.doi.org./10.1016/j.asr.2005.07.035

Polarimetry is a very useful tool for asteroid studies because it makes it possible to get information on some important physical parameters, like geometric albedo, which are intimately related to surface composition and regolith structure. In recent years there has been a strongly renewed interest in the field of asteroid polarimetry, due to...

We have developed a new three-parameter H, G1, G2 magnitude phase function for asteroids. The phase function is aimed at replacing the currently adopted two-parameter H, G phase function. We show that H, G1, G2 produces better fits of available magnitude - phase curves of well-observed asteroids. We show also that the new system can be...

Icarus, 192, pp. 475-490, http://dx.doi.org./10.1016/j.icarus..07.01

We explore experimentally possible explanations of the polarization curves of the sunlight reflected by the Barbarian asteroids. Their peculiar polarization curves are characterized by a large-inversion angle, around 30°, which could be related to the presence of FeO-bearing spinel embedded in Calcium-Aluminum inclusions. In order to test this...

Earth Moon and Planets, 101, pp. 97-125, http://dx.doi.org./10.1007/s11038-007-9221-z

The Gaia mission will be launched in mid-2013 by the European Space Agency (ESA). Solar System science is also well covered by the mission and has been included since the early stages of its concept and development.

Meteoritics and Planetary Science Supplement, 72, p. 5261 (2009)

International audience