An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

A phenomenon in which the rotation rate of a small asteroid changes under sunlight absorption. Photons from the Sun are absorbed by a small body and reradiated in infrared. In the process, two forces influence the object: one from the impact of the photons, providing a tiny push, and the other as a recoil effect when the object emits the absorbed energy. In the YORP effect the body’s shape has a more effective role than albedo in altering the spin rate. For small asteroids (< 10 km), YORP can cause measurable changes in rotation rate. The effect can even speed up the rotation leading to disintegration. → Yarkovsky effect.

See also: Short for Ivan Osipovich Yarkovsky, John A. O‘Keefe, V. V. Radzievskii, and Stephen J. Paddockk, who developed the explanation; → effect.