EarthRef.org Reference Database (ERR)
Development and Maintenance by the EarthRef.org Database Team

Detailed Reference Information
Garmier et al. 2002
Garmier, R., Barriot, J., Konopliv, A.S. and Yeomans, D.K. (2002). Modeling of the Eros gravity field as an ellipsoidal harmonic expansion from the NEAR Doppler tracking data. Geophysical Research Letters 29: doi: 10.1029/2001GL013768. issn: 0094-8276.

The gravity field for asteroid 433 Eros has been determined in terms of ellipsoidal harmonic functions by processing the Doppler tracking data of the NEAR spacecraft while it was in orbit about the asteroid. Using the same set of NEAR spacecraft Doppler tracking data, comparative descriptions of the Eros gravity field are provided for both the ellipsoidal and the traditional spherical harmonic models. It is shown that for elongated bodies, like the asteroid Eros, the ellipsoidal harmonics model permits a better representation of the gravity signature than does the spherical harmonics model. Eros has a nearly uniform density but there are negative gravity anomalies near the ends of Eros and positive gravity anomalies near the Psyche crater and the Himeros depression.

BACKGROUND DATA FILES

Abstract

Keywords
Geodesy and Gravity, Planetary geodesy and gravity (5420, 5714, 6019), Geodesy and Gravity, Instruments and techniques, Planetology, Comets and Small Bodies, Gravitational fields, Planetology, Solar System Objects, Asteroids and meteoroids
Journal
Geophysical Research Letters
http://www.agu.org/journals/gl/
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
2000 Florida Avenue N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20009-1277
USA
1-202-462-6900
1-202-328-0566
service@agu.org
Click to clear formClick to return to previous pageClick to submit