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Spectrophotometric observations of 4979 Otawara, target of the Rosetta space mission

Authors: Fornasier, S.; Barucci, M. A.; Binzel, R. P.; Birlan, M.; Fulchignoni, M.; Barbieri, C.; Bus, S. J.; Harris, A. W.; Rivkin, A. S.; Lazzarin, M.; Dotto, E.; Erikson, A.; Michalowsky, T.; Doressoundiram, A.; Bertini, I.; Peixinho, N.

Ref.: American Astronomical Society, DPS Meeting #34, #14.11; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society 34 (2002)

Abstract: A physical portrait based on spectral and photometric data of 4979 Otawara, the first asteroid target of the Rosetta mission, is presented. The aim of this work is to investigate the composition of 4979 Otawara and to evaluate its rotation pole orientation. The spectroscopic observations obtained at Palomar 200'' and IRTF telescopes cover the wavelength range 0.4 to 2.5 μ m, and provide a definitive classification of Otawara as S-type asteroid. An analysis of band depths and slopes places Otawara in the space of S(IV) types, and its possible analogy with ordinary chondrite meteorites is investigated. Moreover we present new photometric data, obtained at Asiago Observatory and at the TNG telescope, that allow confirmation of the fast rotational period of 2.707+/-0.005 hours, and a first indication of the spin vector of Otawara.