Asteroid 16 Psyche: Shape, Features, and Global Map

We develop a shape model of asteroid 16 Psyche using observations acquired in a wide range of wavelengths: Arecibo S-band delay-Doppler imaging, Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) plane-of-sky imaging, adaptive optics (AO) images from Keck and the Very Large Telescope (VLT), and a recent stellar occultation. Our shape model has dimensions 278 (-4/+8 km) x 238(-4/+6 km) x 171 km (-1/+5 km), an effective spherical diameter D (eff) = 222-1/+4 km, and a spin axis (ecliptic lon, lat) of (36 degrees, -8 degrees) +/- 2 degrees. We survey all the features previously reported to exist, tentatively identify several new features, and produce a global map of Psyche. Using 30 calibrated radar echoes, we find Psyche's overall radar albedo to be 0.34 +/- 0.08 suggesting that the upper meter of regolith has a significant metal (i.e., Fe-Ni) content. We find four regions of enhanced or complex radar albedo, one of which correlates well with a previously identified feature on Psyche, and all of which appear to correlate with patches of relatively high optical albedo. Based on these findings, we cannot rule out a model of Psyche as a remnant core, but our preferred interpretation is that Psyche is a differentiated world with a regolith composition analogous to enstatite or CH/CB chondrites and peppered with localized regions of high metal concentrations. The most credible formation mechanism for these regions is ferrovolcanism as proposed by Johnson et al. (2020).

Automated summary

A shape model of asteroid 16 Psyche was developed using observations from various wavelengths. The model provides dimensions, spin axis, and surface composition information suggesting Psyche may be a differentiated world with metal-rich regions. These findings support a possible ferrovolcanism formation mechanism for localized regions.