Authors: Bauer James M., Grav Tommy, Buratti Bonnie J., and Hicks Michael D.
%F: AA(Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Palomar Observatory, California Institute of Technology, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Mailstop 183-501, Pasadena, CA 91109, USA), AB(Institute for Astronomy, University of Hawaii, 2860 Woodlawn Drive, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA), AC(Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Palomar Observatory, California Institute of Technology, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Mailstop 183-501, Pasadena, CA 91109, USA), AD(Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Palomar Observatory, California Institute of Technology, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Mailstop 183-501, Pasadena, CA 91109, USA)
Title: The phase curve survey of the irregular saturnian satellites: A possible method of physical classification
Abstract: During its 2005 January opposition, the saturnian system could be viewed at an unusually low phase angle. We surveyed a subset of Saturn's irregular satellites to obtain their true opposition magnitudes, or nearly so, down to phase angle values of 0.01°. Combining our data taken at the Palomar 200-inch and Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory's 4-m Blanco telescope with those in the literature, we present the first phase curves for nearly half the irregular satellites originally reported by Gladman et al. [2001. Nature 412, 163 166], including Paaliaq (SXX), Siarnaq (SXXIX), Tarvos (SXXI), Ijiraq (SXXII), Albiorix (SXVI), and additionally Phoebe's narrowest angle brightness measured to date. We find centaur-like steepness in the phase curves or opposition surges in most cases with the notable exception of three, Albiorix and Tarvos, which are suspected to be of similar origin based on dynamical arguments, and Siarnaq.
Keywords: analysis, analytical, faint, observation, parameter, parameter, photometric, planetology, Saturn, theory
Journal: Icarus
Volume: 184
Number: 1
Pages: 181-197
Year: 2006
Bibliogaphic Code: 2006Icar..184..181B
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