Asteroid modelling by starlight diffraction: The shape of Dimorphos, the satellite of (65803) Didymos
P. Tanga, K. Tsiganis, D. Souami, R. Anderson, E. Barbotin + 15 more
TLDR
This paper uses starlight diffraction from a stellar occultation to model the post-impact shape of asteroid Dimorphos, confirming an elongated form.
Key contributions
- Presents the first use of multi-chord diffraction signatures from a single event for asteroid shape modeling.
- Modeled Dimorphos's projected shape using data from a January 21, 2023 stellar occultation event.
- Confirmed Dimorphos's post-impact shape is consistent with an equatorially elongated ellipsoid.
Why it matters
This research introduces a novel method for asteroid shape determination using starlight diffraction, offering a new tool for planetary defense. It provides crucial insights into the post-impact state of Dimorphos, validating DART mission observations.
Original Abstract
The DART spacecraft impacted Dimorphos, the satellite of (65803) Didymos, in September 2022. Evidence of crater formation and possible global reshaping has been obtained indirectly from spacecraft and ground-based data. Since the impact, several stellar occultations by Didymos have been observed, but only one in particular, on January 21, 2023, can provide useful constraints on the size and shape of Dimorphos. We modelled the diffraction signatures recorded on multiple occultation chords to constrain the projected shape and size of Dimorphos, assuming an ellipsoidal model. This is the first time diffraction observed simultaneously on several chords of a single event has been used for such a purpose. The projected shape at the epoch of the event is well constrained and consistent with recent post-DART determinations. When extended to a full three-dimensional ellipsoidal solution, the result remains compatible with previous studies, suggesting an equatorially elongated post-impact shape.
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