content 19-June-2013 11:18:00

Asteroid (2867) Steins
Asteroid (2867) Steins was selected as a scientific target to be observed, and flown by, during the cruise phase of the Rosetta mission. It is a rare, E-type asteroid of which little is known. The Rosetta fly-by, on 5 September 2008, provides a unique opportunity to perform the first in-situ exploration, characterising the surface and environment of this member of the rare E-type asteroid class.

Early results from Rosetta (March 2006)

Early observations of asteroid Steins were performed using Rosetta’s OSIRIS camera in March 2006. Continuous coverage of the asteroid, lasting more than 24 hours was obtained at a phase angle of 41.7 degrees – this is larger than the maximum phase angle of Steins (30 degrees) that can be seen from Earth. Several hundred images covering four rotation periods without interruption, were acquired.

Light curve of asteroid (2867) Steins from OSIRIS data, March 2006. (Küppers et al., 2007)

Analysis of the data revealed that the light curve of (2867) Steins is double peaked with an amplitude of approximately 0.23 mag. The rotation period was determined to be 6.052 ± 0.007 hours which confirmed previous measurements obtained from ground. The continuous observations over four rotation periods exclude the possibility of period ambiguities. The asymmetry of the light curve implies an irregular shaped asteroid.

Status of asteroid (2867) Steins prior to the Rosetta fly-by

Asteroid (2867) Steins was discovered in 1969 by N. Chernykh at Nauchnyj, Crimea.  It is named after Karlis Augustovick Steins, former director of the Latvian University Astronomical Observatory who was known for his work on cometary cosmogony. It is located in the main asteroid belt between Mars & Jupiter and has been classified as an E-type asteroid based on its visual and near-infrared spectrum (Barucci et al 2005) and on its high albedo of 0.45 determined by Fornasier et al (2006).

Orbital and physical characteristics of asteroid (2867) Steins - based on pre-Rosetta observations*
Semimajor axis (AU) 2.364
Eccentricity 0.146
Inclination (deg) 9.944
Taxonomic type E
Synodical rotation period (h) 6.06
Albedo 0.45
Diameter 4.6 km
*From Barucci et al., 2005

 

Last Update: 08 July 2010

For further information please contact: SciTech.editorial@esa.int

Status Reports Archive

  • http://sci.esa.int/science-e/www/object/index.cfm?fobjectid=31523&farchive_objecttypeid=30&farchive_objectid=30930

Related Publications

  • Küppers, M., et al. [2007] (http://sci.esa.int/jump.cfm?oid=40861)
  • Barucci, M.A., et al. [2005] (http://sci.esa.int/jump.cfm?oid=43355)
  • Fornasier, S., et al. [2006] (http://sci.esa.int/jump.cfm?oid=43359)