In theNews: Asteroid Pairs

[CraigS]

In the news:
"Avoiding an asteroid collision: Researchers reveal a new dimension in the study of asteroid pairs"

Now researchers at Tel Aviv University, in collaboration with an international group of scientists, have proved the existence of these theoretical "separated asteroid" pairs.
..
According to Dr. Brosch, separated asteroids are composed of small pebbles glued together by gravitational attraction. Their paths are affected by the gravitational pull of major planets, but the radiation of the sun, he says, can also have an immense impact. Once the sun's light is absorbed by the asteroid, rotation speeds up. When it reaches a certain speed, a piece will break off to form a separate asteroid.
...
With this study, says Dr. Brosch, researchers have been able to prove the connection between two separate spinning asteroids and demonstrate the existence of asteroids that exist in paired relationships.

Cheers

[higginsdj]

Thats an interesting 'take' on someone elses work!!! Polishook is indeed an author on the work that was recently published in Nature ("Formation of asteroid pairs by rotational fussion"; http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...ad.php?t=65193) but Brosch wasn't......

Cheers

[CraigS]

It seems Dr. Noah Brosch is Polishook's supervisor:

Ph.D. student David Polishook of Tel Aviv University's Department of Geophysics and Planetary Sciences and his supervisor Dr. Noah Brosch of the university's School of Physics and Astronomy

So, is it Brosch who's come to the conclusion (of proof), or is he saying 'researchers' have ?

With this study, says Dr. Brosch, researchers have been able to prove the connection between two separate spinning asteroids and demonstrate the existence of asteroids that exist in paired relationships.

Can't really tell from a journo's article. Also can't follow up on the papers (no links in this article, pointing to them).

Cheers & Rgds

[CraigS]

PS:

Here's Polishook's page> Here's his publications.

His contact details are on his web page, also.

[higginsdj]

Petr always lists his authors in priority order of input. I just hate it when I see (implied in this case, most likely the journo making some assumptions) someone latching onto someone elses work.

Its no biggie - it just urks me.

[CraigS]

He's co-published quite a lot with Brosch ...

This paper seems to be his latest with him:

Polishook, D., Brosch, N., and Prialnik, D., 2010. Rotation Periods of Binary Asteroids with Large Separations – Confronting the Escaping Ejecta Binaries Model with Observations. Submitted to Icarus.

Not sure if that's the one underpinning the 'Nature' publication article (in the original post).

Cheers

[higginsdj]

Do you have a link for that paper? It sounds interesting.

[CraigS]

David;

I've looked everywhere, .. sorry, I can't find it. It may be undergoing peer review at the moment. I don't think they've published it yet in Icarus.

Might have to wait for it.

Cheers