Thermal Physics of Asteroids

Example Thermophysical Model of the asteroid (951) Gaspra

The thermophysical model orients the asteroid relative to the Sun and the Earth, and computes the amount of reflected solar radiation. The solar radiation which is not reflected is absorbed and heats the surface. The model computes the surface temperature by taking into account the absorbed energy, the conduction of heat into the surface material and the loss of heat due to the thermal emission. As the asteroid rotates the disc integrated flux will vary, producing a thermal light curve.