Astrometry, orbit determination, and thermal inertia of the Tianwen-2 target asteroid (469219) Kamo‘oalewa

Abstract

Context. (469219) Kamo‘oalewa is a small near-Earth asteroid (NEA) that is currently a quasi-satellite of the Earth. Light curve measurements have also revealed a rotation period of only about 30 minutes. This asteroid has been selected as the target of the Tianwen-2 sample-return mission of the China National Space Administration. Aims. The first goal of this paper is to observe and improve the orbit determination of (469219) Kamo‘oalewa, and to better determine the Yarkovsky effect acting on it. The second goal is to estimate the thermal inertia of the asteroid, using an improved Yarkovsky effect determination. Methods. Our observational campaign imaged the asteroid from the Loiano Astronomical Station and from the Calar Alto Observatory, in March 2024. We also accurately re-measured a precovery detection from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey from 2004. New astrometry was later used in a seven-dimensional (7D) orbit determination, aimed at estimating both the orbital elements and the Yarkovsky effect. The thermal inertia was later studied by using the ASTERIA, a new method suitable for estimating the thermal inertia of small asteroids. Results. We detected a semi-major axis drift of (−67.35 ± 4.70) × 10−4 au My−1 due to the Yarkovsky effect, with a high signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) of 14. The new orbit solution also significantly reduced the position uncertainty for the arrival of the Tianwen-2 spacecraft. By using different models for the physical parameters of Kamo‘oalewa, the ASTERIA model estimated the thermal inertia at Γ = 150+−9045 J m−2 K−1 s−1/2 or Γ = 181+−9560 J m−2 K−1 s−1/2