Polarimetric properties of asteroid 3200 Phaethon

TL;DR

This study reconstructs the polarimetric curves of asteroid 3200 Phaethon across multiple bands, revealing surface properties indicative of thermally altered regolith and rock fragments.

Contribution

It provides the first full polarimetric curves of Phaethon in BVRI bands, offering insights into its surface composition and structure.

Findings

Polarimetric curves reconstructed in BVRI bands

Surface composed of thermally altered regolith and rock fragments

Surface properties suggest a coarse, pebble-like regolith

Abstract

The polarimetric observations of asteroid 3200 Phaethon, the target of international observation campaign, did not cover a proper phase angle interval to provide estimating all the attributes of the asteroid polarization curve. Based on present discrete observation data for Phaethon, its full polarimetric curves in BVRI bandpasses were reproduced. The polarimetric properties of the asteroid correspond to a notion on surface structure as thermally altered regolith particles mixed with lager rock fragments like a coarse pebble.