Nonextensive distributions of rotation periods and diameters of asteroids

Abstract

Context. To investigate the distribution of rotation periods of asteroids from different regions of the Solar System and distribution of diameters of near-Earth asteroids (NEAs). Aims. Verify if nonextensive statistics satisfactorily describes the data. Methods. Light curve data was taken from Planetary Database System (PDS) with Rel $\ge 2$. Taxonomic class and region of the Solar System was also considered. Data of NEA were taken from Minor Planet Center. Results. The rotation periods of asteroids follow a $q$-Gaussian with $q=2.6$ regardless of taxonomy, diameter or region of the Solar System of the object. The distribution of rotation periods is influenced by observational bias. The diameters of NEAs are described by a $q$-exponential with $q=1.3$. According to this distribution, there are expected to be $994 \pm 30$ NEAs with diameters greater than 1 km.