At just a few kilometers across, Toutatis is extremely unlikely to
experience any Geminid impacts. Furthermore, is isn't optically
resolved, so the light of any impact would be lost in the much greater
light of the reflected Sun (Toutatis has the same albedo as the Moon,
and we can only see meteoroid impacts on the unlit section of the Moon-
possible because we can actually resolve just that part of it).
Chris
*******************************
Chris L Peterson
Cloudbait Observatory
http://www.cloudbait.com
On 12/13/2012 9:26 AM, Francis Graham wrote:
Hello
I am not familiar with the imaging devices on Chang e 2 as it heads
for Toutatis. But the Geminids are here, and flashes of meteor
impacts from showers have been recorded as they happen on the Moon.
Presumably, some Geminid impacts might happen also on Toutatis during
the Chang-e 2 encounter--not too likely, but not so improbable as to
be discounted. Pushbroom imaging systems would probably miss it
though...well, maybe. Something I suppose to look for, but not hope
for.
Francis Graham
______________________________________________
Visit the Archives at http://www.meteorite-list-archives.com
Meteorite-list mailing list
[email protected]
http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
