Radar observations of long-lost asteroid 1937 UB (Hermes)

Background

Asteroid 1937 UB (Hermes) is a large (~1 km) object of considerable historical and dynamical interest. It is a potentially hazardous asteroid, and the largest asteroid ever observed to make a close approach to Earth within less than twice the distance to the Moon. It has eluded astronomers for 66 years since its 1937 apparition.

The interest in Hermes is not limited to its history or hazard. Last year we observed an asteroid, 2002 SY50, that bears a striking resemblance to Hermes in terms of size and orbital parameters, and it is possible that the two objects are dynamically related. A close planetary encounter might have tidally disrupted a large object, leaving Hermes and 2002 SY50 on similar orbits.

Rediscovery

Hermes was rediscovered on 2003 Oct 15 by Brian Skiff of Lowell Observatory. The rediscovery announcements appeared in MPEC 2003-T74 and IAUC circular 8223. A link with the 1937 observations was rapidly obtained by Steven Chesley and Paul Chodas (JPL); their work is summarized on MPEC 2003-U04. Shortly after the recovery, Andy Rivkin and Rick Binzel (MIT) reported an S-type classification in IAUC circular 8225. Our initial radar results are reported in IAUC circular 8227. The text of our IAU circular is also available here.

Radar observations

An urgent proposal was submitted to Arecibo Observatory on Oct 15 (project R1898), and time was allocated on Oct 17, 19, and 20. Additional observations are planned on Oct 25-26 thanks to the generosity of the aeronomy group at Arecibo. Time has also been requested at Goldstone, and we will observe Hermes on Nov 4, 8, 9, 11, 12.

A Doppler spectrum of the radar echo obtained on Oct 17 shows two clearly separated components.

The set of radar images below show the relative motion of the components over the course of about one hour on Oct 19. Motion is counter-clockwise. In each panel, the component at positive Doppler frequencies (right), moves toward the observer, while the component at negative Doppler frequencies (left), moves away from the observer. Radar illumination is from the top. The range resolution is 75 m.
mosaic

Radar Astrometry

Range and Doppler astrometry data were reported to the Minor Planet Center and have been posted on JPL's radar astrometry web site. Here is a statement from Jon Giorgini about the importance of the measurements:

"Using radar, the position and velocity of Hermes has been measured to within 300 meters and 50 mm/s; much more accurately than with optical telescopes. Including those measurements in a new orbit solution suddenly allowed us to accurately predict Hermes motion over many centuries, from 1561 to 2103.

During those 542 years, it makes 23 close approaches to the Earth, 29 to Venus, 7 to Mars, and 7 to a large asteroid called Vesta. Hermes closest approach was in the skies over the Earth in 1942, as World War II was fought underneath, when it passed about 1.8 times further away than the Moon. However, no one noticed it at the time.

Eventually, the gravitational forces from all these encounters with the planets blurs out our knowledge of where Hermes will be, requiring more measurements in the future to make specific longer predictions. Although technically classified as a "Potentially Hazardous Asteroid", this only means it has an orbit such that, over hundreds of thousands or millions of years, Hermes could potentially come very near the Earth. However, there is no risk now."

Jon Giorgini also provided a close approach table.

For additional information

Please contact me or any of my co-authors.

I will be visiting the Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences and the Department of Astronomy at the University of Brithish Columbia in Vancouver from Oct 23 to Oct 28. I will be reading email regularly. You may try this phone number 604 827-5319.

Jean-Luc Margot
Department of Earth and Space Sciences at UCLA
595 Charles Young Drive East
3806 Geology Building Box 951567
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1567
jlm@ess.ucla.edu