Research Note

Near-infrared spectroscopy of 1999 JU₃, the target of the Hayabusa 2 mission

¹ Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía – CSIC, Glorieta de la Astronomía, s/n, 18008 Granada, Spain
e-mail: npinilla@utk.edu
² Fundación Galileo Galilei – INAF, Rambla José Ana Fernández Pérez 7, 37812 Breña Baja, TF, Spain
³ University of Central Florida,Physics Department, PO Box 162385, Orlando, FL 32816–2385, USA
⁴ Departamento de Edafología y Geología, Universidad de La Laguna, Avda. Astrofísico Francisco Sánchez, s/n, 38205 La Laguna, TF, Spain
⁵ Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC), C/vía Láctea s/n, 38205 La Laguna, TF, Spain
⁶ Departamento de Astrofísica, Universidad de La Laguna, 38205 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain

Received: 28 December 2012
Accepted: 4 March 2013

Abstract

Context. Primitive asteroids contain complex organic material and ices relevant to the origin of life on Earth. These types of asteroids are the target of several sample-return missions to be launched in the next years. 1999 JU₃ is the target of the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency’s Hayabusa 2 mission.

Aims. 1999 JU₃ has been previously identified as a C-class asteroid. Spectroscopic observations at longer wavelengths will help to constrain its composition.

Methods. We obtained spectroscopy of 1999 JU₃ from 0.85 to 2.2 μm, with the 3.6 m Telescopio Nazionale Galileo using the low-resolution mode of the Near Infrared Camera Spectrograph.

Results. We present a near-infrared spectrum of 1999 JU₃ from 0.85 to 2.2 μ that is consistent with previously published spectra and with its C-type classification.

Conclusions. Our spectrum confirms the primitive nature of 1999 JU₃ and its interest as target of the sample-return mission Hayabusa 2.