A discussion on estimating small bodies taxonomies using phase curves results

TL;DR

This paper discusses how upcoming large photometric surveys will enhance our understanding of small bodies by analyzing their phase curves, and questions some established relationships between phase coefficients and small body taxonomy.

Contribution

It proposes revisions to long-standing relationships between phase coefficients and small body taxonomies based on large-sample statistical analysis.

Findings

Some traditional relationships may need updating.

Large datasets can improve classification accuracy.

Revisions could refine small body taxonomy understanding.

Abstract

Upcoming large multiwavelength photometric surveys will provide a leap in our understanding of small body populations, among other fields of modern astrophysics. Serendipitous observations of small bodies in different orbital locations allow us to study diverse phenomena related to how their surfaces scatter solar light. In particular, multiple observations of the same object in different epochs permit us to construct their phase curves to obtain absolute magnitudes and phase coefficients. In this work, we tackle a series of long-used relationships associating these phase coefficients with the taxa of small bodies and suggest that some may need to be revised in the light of large-number statistics.