PSJC #120 September 7 2012

Tracy Becker

SHAPE Modeling of First Triple NEA 2001 SN263

We present the physical characteristics of the first-discovered triple near-Earth asteroid system (153591) 2001 SN263 as determined by SHAPE modeling. We use delay-Doppler images and continuous wave data taken at the Arecibo Observatory in February 2008, in addition to light curves observed throughout January-March 2008 to model the three components of the asteroid. We will discuss the data and the modeling process used. We present the SHAPE models, sizes, volumes, densities, rotation periods, and pole directions for the primary asteroid and its satellites and discuss implications for the ternary system's formation and evolution.