Radar imaging of Asteroid 7 Iris

• Published in: Icarus
• Main Authors: Ostro, S. J., Magri, C., Benner, L. A. M., Giorgini, J. D., Nolan, M. C., Hine, A. A., Busch, M. W., Margot, J. L.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2010
• Subjects: South Pole; South pole
• Online Access: https://authors.library.caltech.edu/18372/; https://authors.library.caltech.edu/18372/1/Ostro2010p9829Icarus.pdf; https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20100520-144613483

Arecibo radar images of Iris obtained in November 2006 reveal a topographically complex object whose gross shape is approximately ellipsoidal with equatorial dimensions within 15% of 253 × 228 km. The radar view of Iris was restricted to high southern latitudes, precluding reliable estimation of Iris’ entire 3D shape, but permitting accurate reconstruction of southern hemisphere topography. The most prominent features, three roughly 50-km-diameter concavities almost equally spaced in longitude around the south pole, are probably impact craters. In terms of shape regularity and fractional relief, Iris represents a plausible transition between ~50-km-diameter asteroids with extremely irregular overall shapes and very large concavities, and very much larger asteroids (Ceres and Vesta) with very regular, nearly convex shapes and generally lacking monumental concavities.