Date for Hubble images of 2 Pallas?

Vilkata · #1 (**permalink**) 19-February-2008, 06:20 AM

I'm not aware of a website that shows the schedule of the Hubble Space Telescope.

The team running the Dawn probe to Vesta and Ceres have scheduled time on Hubble to image the asteroid 2 Pallas for the once-in-twenty-years opportunity to view the asteroid at closest approach. However, I don't know when this will be.

Is this something we can look forward to in the next year, or is this years in the future?

I found this website:
http://www.stsci.edu/observing/phase2-public/11115.pro

Which seems to show that this observation was already carried out! If so, where are the images? I haven't been able to find them.

--Ben.

01101001 · #2 (**permalink**) 19-February-2008, 07:02 AM

Lunar and Planetary Science XXXIX (2008): HUBBLE TAKES A LOOK AT PALLAS: SHAPE, SIZE AND SURFACE. B. E. Schmidt, P. C. Thomas, et al (PDF)

Quote:

In September 2007 Pallas was observed
with the Wide Field and Planetary Camera
(WFPC2) camera on the Hubble Space Telescope.
Images were taken in 5 filters from the UV to I in order
to determine Pallas’ surface properties, model its
size and shape, and determine its rotational sense.
[...]
Conclusions: Pallas is one of three large asteroids
that stand apart as protoplanets. Using HST’s WFPC2
camera, we have measured Pallas’ size, shape, and
physical properties. From five-band imaging there is
evidence for albedo variation at the few-percent level.
They are also consistent with a prograde sense of rotation.
The shape measured of 291 x 278 x 250 km implies
a bulk density of 2762 kg/m3, which should drive
a discussion of its internal structure.

American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2007: New Views of 2 Pallas From the Hubble Space Telescope; Schmidt, B. E.; Russell, C. T., et al

Quote:

Planned September observations of Pallas with Hubble's WFPC2 in five filters from 336 to 814 nm are discussed. These occur during Pallas' opposition with full rotational coverage and include a satellite search. This is the first major HST observing campaign ever planned for Pallas. In addition, during August and September, a ground-based campaign took place at three locations to support the HST observations. We present first results from our comprehensive survey of Pallas, and predictions for future analysis.

AAS: Hubble Space Telescope Observations of 2 Pallas; Schmidt, B.; Russell, C. T., et al

Quote:

Planned September 3 observations of Pallas with Hubble's WFPC2 in five filters from 336-814 nm are discussed. These occur during Pallas’ opposition and include a satellite search.

Vilkata · #3 (**permalink**) 19-February-2008, 08:42 AM

Thank you very much for that! Greatly appreciated.

I find it odd that Pallas seems to be one of the most egg shaped bodies in the solar system. Ceres is spherical. Vesta is not because it suffered a cataclysmic impact in the past. Pallas is definitely big enough to force itself into a sphere, but hasnt - although it has come close. Makes you wonder whats going on with it. I mean heck, its bigger than Enceladus.

---Ben.

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