Speaker
Description
While spacecraft visiting individual bodies in our solar system reveal their targets in unrivaled detail, astronomical observations are irreplaceable for some aspects of solar system exploration. Astronomy gives us access to a large number of objects, enabling population studies and providing a comprehensive view of the solar system's inventory. Also, astronomical observations can be planned and carried out on much shorter timescales than space missions, enabling the discovery and follow-up of unexpected events like collisions, disruptions and temporary visitors, crucial to understanding the on-going evolution of the solar system. Both aspects are particularly relevant for studying the solar system's small body populations, including, but not limited to, comets and asteroids.
This talk provides an overview of the small bodies in our solar system that are thought to have been preserved from the time before planet formation in three dynamical reservoirs: the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, the Transneptunian region beyond Neptune, and the Oort Cloud at the very limit of the sun's gravitational influence. The talk will explore some aspects of small body research where radio astronomy plays a crucial role or may become relevant in the future with increasing telescope sensitivity and resolution.
