Spitzer's Solar System studies of asteroids, planets and the zodiacal cloud

TL;DR

Spitzer's 16-year infrared observations have significantly advanced understanding of Solar System objects, including asteroids, dust disks, and ice giant atmospheres, offering valuable insights into Solar System formation and evolution.

Contribution

This paper presents new infrared data from Spitzer on asteroids, dust rings, and planets, enhancing knowledge of their physical properties and atmospheric compositions.

Findings

Large survey of Near Earth Objects' properties

Detection of multiple Solar System dust disks

Detailed characterization of Uranus and Neptune atmospheres

Abstract

In its 16 years of scientific measurements, the Spitzer Space Telescope performed a number of ground-breaking infrared measurements of Solar System objects. In this second of two papers, we describe results from Spitzer observations of asteroids, dust rings, and planets that provide new insight into the formation and evolution of our Solar System. The key Spitzer results presented here can be grouped into three broad classes: characterizing the physical properties of asteroids, notably including a large survey of Near Earth Objects; detection and characterization of several dust/debris disks in the Solar System; and comprehensive characterization of ice giant (Uranus, Neptune) atmospheres. Many of these observations provide critical foundations for future infrared space-based observations.