The study of the asteroids and comets is of primary importance to understand the origin of our Solar system, and it is crucial to assess the role they played for the delivery of water and organic-rich material to the early Earth, and the subsequent emergence of life. Technical advances brought by the space missions and by the ground-based telescopes have contributed in the recent years to an impressive increase of minor planets observational data.
The aim of our project, Big Data for Small Bodies (BD4SB), is to quantify and to characterize the diversity of small bodies of the Solar System at sizes from meter to kilometer scale. To achieve this objective we will develop a framework which combines the existing tremendous amount of observations provided by the large surveys programs with the data provided by space missions and with the laboratory results of meteorites and various rocks and minerals. We will make use of the advancements of machine learning and pattern recognition algorithms.
Based on this new approach which considers the big data obtained by various instruments, telescopes and spacecraft mission in a unified context, we will be able to shed light on the following questions: 1) What are the processes that shaped the planetesimals in the early Solar System? - characterize the differentiation process across the Main Belt 2) Is there any asteroid composition unsampled in the existing meteorites collections? 3) What are the resources (and to which level) that small bodies can provide for the space exploration? 4) How the properties of small bodies of the Solar System compare with those of recently discovered interstellar objects.
The second aim of our project is to consolidate our Romanian team of planetologists. Within this project we will publish at least three articles in journals with I.F. > 5 and we will enhance the collaborations in the framework of the working groups of the space-mission research teams and all-sky surveys.
Algorithms and software for statistical analysis of asteroids observational data. These will include taxonomic classification based on spectral/spectro-photometric data, compositional analysis, comparison of the data obtained by different observing programs, and comparison of asteroid data with the laboratory data for meteorites.
a) Constrain the differentiation process across the Main Belt of asteroids; b) Statistical analysis of physical properties of asteroids with respect to their sizes; c) Observations of the peculiar targets.
The participation in the international research programs and becoming active members in the working groups of the space-mission research teams and / or all-sky survey observational programs.
Four published articles, and one paper sent to publication. All of them will be published in a scientific journal with an ISI factor higher than 5.
Four posters (or presentations) presented at the major planetary science conferences (EPSC, DPS, ACM).
Observing proposal for INT and/or IRTF and/or WHT and/or GTC.
The data processing software freely available on the project website.
Project website.
Various reports and outreach presentations.
WP1 Project management. The objective of this package is to ensure that all tasks are performed correctly and within the rules and regulations established in the grant, including financial rights and duties. The following coordinating activities are required: organization of monthly project meetings in order to monitor the work plan, supervising the scientific and technical tasks for managing the data, and project representation at academic meetings. The management and co-ordination is carried out by the project leader. WP1 Deliverable: a). Meeting Minutes of monthly meetings of the research team; b). Series of progress reports including intermediate reports (months 12, 24) and a final report.
WP2 Data processing. The objective of this package is to develop the methods and the algorithms for generating a unique framework for the observations provided by the large spectro-photometric surveys, together with the existing spectral data of asteroids and with the in-situ measurements performed by the spacecraft missions. The following spectro-photometric surveys will be considered: i) SDSS and J-Plus for the visible part; ii) the VISTA-VHS MOVIS for the near-infrared part; iii) and the WISE/NEOWISE data for the near-infrared / infrared part. We will compare this data with online available spectral data obtained from M4AST database (Popescu et al. 2012), SMASS – MITHNEOS (Binzel et al. 2019), NEOShield-2 (Perna et al. 2018), INT spectral survey (Popescu et al. 2019). The spectral and spectro-phtometric measurements of OSIRIS-Rex and Hayabusa 2 spacecraft mission will be considered in order to compare in-situ observed data with the remote observed one. WP2 is divided into: 2.1) algorithms and tools for retriving the observational data; 2.2) Convert the data acquired with different setups and instruments to a unique framework; 2.3) Pattern recognition algorithms for classifying planetary science data. WP2 Deliverable: a) Report on the obtained routines; b) Two conference posters; c) Routines/Procedures freely available on-line.
WP3 Telescope observations. The first results of WP2 will outline peculiar objects such as asteroids with rare composition and asteroids with properties that are not in agreement with the evolution models of the Solar System (for example basaltic asteroids in the outer main belt). These objects will be identified in detail by using new telescope observations. This WP is divided into: 3.1) Obtain telescope time to study new objects and proceed with the observations; 3.2) Obtain and analyze spectral and spectra-photometric data; 3.3) Prepare an article to present the results to the community. WP3 Deliverable: a) Observing proposals submitted to world wide telescopes such us IRTF, INT, WHT, and GTC telescopes; b) One conference poster with the results (EPSC, or DPS, or COSPAR); c) Article sent for publication to a journal with impact factor > 5 (A&A, or MNRAS).
WP4 Characterization of the small body population. The objective of this package is to analyze and interpret the data in the context of Solar System evolution model and to publish the results in journals with large impact factors. The previous packages will allow us to investigate (1) the composition and total mass distribution along the asteroid belt; (2) the composition characterizations of asteroid families and populations; (3) the inventory of rare basaltic (V-class) and pure olivine (A-class) asteroids throughout the asteroid belt; (4) the identification of evidence of processes of aqueous alteration. The WP4 is divided in: 4.1) constrain the differentiation process across the Main Belt of asteroids; 4.2) Compare the spectral and spectrophotometric properties of bodies with different sizes and with the data obtained by the spacecraft missions; 4.3) Publish two articles (submitted to A&A, or MNRAS, or Nature Astronomy). WP 4 Deliverable: a) Conference presentation; b) Two ISI articles in a journal with I.F.> 5.
WP5 Participation to top international research programs. It contains two items: 5.1) participate in the top international research programs and be active members in the working groups of the space-mission research teams (ESA Hera and we target also the Lucy mission) and/ or all-sky survey observational programs (ESA Euclid space telescope); 5.2) Collaborate wit colleagues from major astrophysics institutes (IAC, Paris Observatory, INAF). WP 5 Deliverable: Co-authoring two articles in the framework of space-mission exploration and/ or all-sky survey observational programs.
WP6 Dissemination of Results. Three items are identified: 6.1) Development of a project website containing information for general and academic public, related to the project objectives, activities and outputs; 6.2) Presentation of project related results at international conferences 6.3) Presentations and educative activities for public during large events. WP 6 Deliverable: a). Development of a project website; b.) Outreach presentations