Characterisation of V-type asteroids orbiting in the middle and outer main belt

Author(s):  
Alessandra Migliorini ◽  
M C De Sanctis ◽  
T A Michtchenko ◽  
D Lazzaro ◽  
M Barbieri ◽  
...  

Abstract We present new spectral observations using ground-based telescopes of 23 putative V-type asteroids, selected according to colour surveys in the visible from the Moving Objects Catalogue of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey and near-infrared from the Moving Objects VISTA catalogue. Ten asteroids are orbiting in the middle main belt, while five in the outer part of the main asteroid belt. For the observed asteroids we assign a taxonomical classification and confirm the basaltic nature for sixteen of them. The high-quality spectra in the UV range, obtained with the X-Shooter spectrograph at ESO, allowed the identification of the Fe2 + forbidden transition of pyroxene for ten asteroids. This band is centred at 506.5 nm, and it is diagnostic of the Ca-content in the pyroxene form. We determined a low Fe-content composition for asteroids (2452) Lyot, (5758) Brunini, (7675) Gorizia, (9197) Endo, (22308) 1990 UO4, (36118) 1999 RE135, (66905) 1999 VC160, and (189597) 2000 WG119, and a composition more rich in Fe for asteroids (75661) 2000 AB79 and (93620) 2000 UQ70. We also present a dynamical investigation of V-type asteroids in the middle and outer main belt. The principal finding of these simulations is that the middle and outer V-types are more likely to be associated with some families, which were considered as possibly originated from the break-up of a partially or totally differentiated parent body by diverse studies. This reinforces the hypothesis that the identified V-type in the region were not originated from (4) Vesta and that the number of differentiated objects in the middle and outer main belt must have been much larger than previously assumed.


2009 ◽  
Vol 5 (S263) ◽  
pp. 237-239
Author(s):  
Anderson O. Ribeiro ◽  
Fernando Roig

AbstractIn this work, we propose to analyse the existence of possible correlations between the taxonomic classes of asteroids showing featureless spectra –i.e. a flat continuum with no absorption bands– and their orbital properties. We compute the mean spectral slope of 14 753 asteroids using the photometric data from the Sloan Digital Sky survey Moving Objects Catalog (SDSS-MOC4). Although the quality of these data is not comparable in resolution to the spectroscopic data, the amount of observations in the SDSS-MOC4 is more than 20 times larger that in the available spectral databases. This allows us to obtain a statistically significant result.



2020 ◽  
Vol 643 ◽  
pp. A102
Author(s):  
M. N. De Prá ◽  
N. Pinilla-Alonso ◽  
J. Carvano ◽  
J. Licandro ◽  
D. Morate ◽  
...  

Context. Asteroid families are witnesses to the intense collisional evolution that occurred on the asteroid belt. The study of the physical properties of family members can provide important information about the state of differentiation of the parent body and provide insights into how these objects were formed. Several of these asteroid families identified across the main belt are dominated by low-albedo, primitive asteroids. These objects are important for the study of Solar System formation because they were subject to weaker thermophysical processing and provide information about the early conditions of our planetary system. Aims. We aim to study the diversity of physical properties among the Themis, Hygiea, Ursula, Veritas, and Lixiaohua families. Methods. We present new spectroscopic data, combined with a comprehensive analysis using a variety of data available in the literature, such as albedo and rotational properties. Results. Our results show that Themis and Hygiea families, the largest families in the region, present similar levels of hydration. Ursula and Lixiaohua families are redder in comparison to the others and present no sign of hydrated members based on the analysis of visible spectra. Conversely, Veritas presents the highest fraction of hydrated members. Conclusions. This work demonstrates a diverse scenario in terms of the physical properties of primitive outer-belt families, which could be associated with dynamical mixing of asteroid populations and the level of differentiation of the parental body.



2019 ◽  
Vol 630 ◽  
pp. A141 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Morate ◽  
Julia de León ◽  
Mário De Prá ◽  
Javier Licandro ◽  
Noemí Pinilla-Alonso ◽  
...  

Aims. Several primitive families in the inner region of the main asteroid belt were identified as potential sources for two near-Earth asteroids (NEAs), (101955) Bennu and (162173) Ryugu, targets of the sample-return missions OSIRIS-REx and Hayabusa2, respectively. Four of the families, located at high proper inclinations (i > 10°), have not yet been compositionally studied: Klio, Chaldaea, Chimaera, and Svea. We want to characterize and analyze these families within the context of our PRIMitive Asteroid Spectroscopic Survey (PRIMASS), in order to complete the puzzle of the origins of the two NEAs. Methods. We obtained visible spectra (0.5–0.9 μm) of a total of 73 asteroids within the Klio, Chaldaea, Chimaera, and Svea collisional families, using the instrument OSIRIS at the 10.4 m Gran Telescopio Canarias. We performed a taxonomical classification of these objects, and an analysis of the possible presence of absorption bands related to aqueous alterations, comparing the results with already studied primitive families in the inner main belt. Results. We present here reflectance spectra for 30 asteroids in the Klio family, 15 in Chaldaea, 20 in Chimaera, and 8 in Svea. We show that Klio, Chaldaea, and Chimaera members have moderately red spectral slopes, with aqueous alteration absorption bands centered around 0.7 μm, characteristic of the group of primitive families known as Erigone-like. In contrast, Svea shows no 0.7 μm features, and neutral and blue spectral slopes, and thus is a Polana-like family. While all four families might be related to (162173) Ryugu, the only family studied in this work that might be related to (101955) Bennu is Svea.



2020 ◽  
Vol 643 ◽  
pp. A107
Author(s):  
Pavol Matlovič ◽  
Julia de Leon ◽  
Hissa Medeiros ◽  
Marcel Popescu ◽  
Juan Luis Rizos ◽  
...  

Most of the currently known basaltic (V-type) asteroids are believed to be past or present members of the Vesta dynamical family. The rising discoveries of V-type asteroids that are not linked to the Vesta family dynamically suggest that a number of major basaltic bodies may have been present during the early stages of the solar system. Using the near-infrared (NIR) colour data in the Moving Objects from VISTA Survey (MOVIS) catalogue, a list of 477 V-type candidates was compiled, with more than half of them outside the Vesta family. In this work, we aim to provide a spectral analysis of 14 V-type candidates of various dynamical types. The computed visible and NIR spectral parameters are used to investigate evidence of space-weathering or mineralogical differences from the expected basaltic composition. Based on the analysis of their visible spectra, we confirm 11 new V-type asteroids: six low-i asteroids – (3188) Jekabsons, (3331) Kvistaberg, (4693) Drummond, (7223) Dolgorukij, (9007) James Bond, and (29733) 1999 BA4; along with four inner-other asteroids – (5524) Lecacheux, (19983) 1990 DW, (51742) 2001 KE55, and (90023) 2003 BD13; as well as one fugitive – (2275) Cuitlahuac. Additionally, we analysed three peculiar outer main belt V-type candidates based on their visible + NIR spectra. We confirm the diogenite-like composition of (2452) Lyot. The spectrum of asteroid (7302) is not consistent with a basaltic composition and likely reflects an S-type body. The spectrum of (14390) 1990 QP10 is similar to a V-type but it shows unique spectral features that suggest a peculiar composition. Overall, our results demonstrate the efficiency of the MOVIS catalogue in identifying V-type objects, with a success rate of over 85%. The identification of V-types in the inner main-belt is more likely due to the presence of the Vesta family and other nearby asteroids that had escaped from the family. In the middle and outer main belt, where the amount of data is more limited, the proportion of false positives increases.



2009 ◽  
Vol 5 (S263) ◽  
pp. 207-214 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nader Haghighipour

AbstractThe discovery of Main Belt Comets (MBCs) has raised many questions regarding the origin and activation mechanism of these objects. Results of a study of the dynamics of these bodies suggest that MBCs were formed in-situ as the remnants of the break-up of large icy asteroids. Simulations show that similar to the asteroids in the main belt, MBCs with orbital eccentricities smaller than 0.2 and inclinations lower than 25° have stable orbits implying that many MBCs with initially larger eccentricities and inclinations might have been scattered to other regions of the asteroid belt. Among scattered MBCs, approximately 20% reach the region of terrestrial planets where they might have contributed to the accumulation of water on Earth. Simulations also show that collisions among MBCs and small objects could have played an important role in triggering the cometary activity of these bodies. Such collisions might have exposed sub-surface water ice which sublimated and created thin atmospheres and tails around MBCs. This paper discusses the results of numerical studies of the dynamics of MBCs and their implications for the origin of these objects. The results of a large numerical modeling of the collisions of m-sized bodies with km-sized asteroids in the outer part of the asteroid belt are also presented and the viability of the collision-triggering activation scenario is discussed.



2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Q. H. S. Chan ◽  
A. Stephant ◽  
I. A. Franchi ◽  
X. Zhao ◽  
R. Brunetto ◽  
...  

AbstractUnderstanding the true nature of extra-terrestrial water and organic matter that were present at the birth of our solar system, and their subsequent evolution, necessitates the study of pristine astromaterials. In this study, we have studied both the water and organic contents from a dust particle recovered from the surface of near-Earth asteroid 25143 Itokawa by the Hayabusa mission, which was the first mission that brought pristine asteroidal materials to Earth’s astromaterial collection. The organic matter is presented as both nanocrystalline graphite and disordered polyaromatic carbon with high D/H and 15N/14N ratios (δD =  + 4868 ± 2288‰; δ15N =  + 344 ± 20‰) signifying an explicit extra-terrestrial origin. The contrasting organic feature (graphitic and disordered) substantiates the rubble-pile asteroid model of Itokawa, and offers support for material mixing in the asteroid belt that occurred in scales from small dust infall to catastrophic impacts of large asteroidal parent bodies. Our analysis of Itokawa water indicates that the asteroid has incorporated D-poor water ice at the abundance on par with inner solar system bodies. The asteroid was metamorphosed and dehydrated on the formerly large asteroid, and was subsequently evolved via late-stage hydration, modified by D-enriched exogenous organics and water derived from a carbonaceous parent body.



Author(s):  
Cristian F Chavez ◽  
T G Müller ◽  
J P Marshall ◽  
J Horner ◽  
H Drass ◽  
...  

Abstract The Hilda asteroids are among the least studied populations in the asteroid belt, despite their potential importance as markers of Jupiter’s migration in the early Solar system. We present new mid-infrared observations of two notable Hildas, (1162) Larissa and (1911) Schubart, obtained using the Faint Object infraRed CAmera for the SOFIA Telescope (FORCAST), and use these to characterise their thermal inertia and physical properties. For (1162) Larissa, we obtain an effective diameter of 46.5$^{+2.3}_{-1.7}$ km, an albedo of 0.12 ± 0.02, and a thermal inertia of 15$^{+10}_{-8}$ Jm−2s1/2K−1. In addition, our Larissa thermal measurements are well matched with an ellipsoidal shape with an axis ratio a/b=1.2 for the most-likely spin properties. Our modelling of (1911) Schubart is not as refined, but the thermal data point towards a high-obliquity spin-pole, with a best-fit a/b=1.3 ellipsoidal shape. This spin-shape solution is yielding a diameter of 72$^{+3}_{-4}$ km, an albedo of 0.039± 0.02, and a thermal inertia below 30 Jm−2s1/2K−1 (or 10$^{+20}_{-5}$ Jm−2s1/2K−1). As with (1162) Larissa, our results suggest that (1911) Schubart is aspherical, and likely elongated in shape. Detailed dynamical simulations of the two Hildas reveal that both exhibit strong dynamical stability, behaviour that suggests that they are primordial, rather than captured objects. The differences in their albedos, along with their divergent taxonomical classification, suggests that despite their common origin, the two have experienced markedly different histories.



Author(s):  
Eri Tatsumi ◽  
Marcel Popescu ◽  
Humberto Campins ◽  
Julia de León ◽  
Juan Luis Rizos García ◽  
...  

Abstract Using the multiband imager MapCam onboard the OSIRIS-REx (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security–Regolith Explorer) spacecraft, we identified 77 instances of proposed exogenic materials distributed globally on the surface of the B-type asteroid (101955) Bennu. We identified materials as exogenic on the basis of an absorption near 1 µm that is indicative of anhydrous silicates. The exogenic materials are spatially resolved by the telescopic camera PolyCam. All such materials are brighter than their surroundings, and they are expressed in a variety of morphologies: homogeneous, breccia-like, inclusion-like, and others. Inclusion-like features are the most common. Visible spectrophotometry was obtained for 46 of the 77 locations from MapCam images. Principal component analysis indicates at least two trends: (i) mixing of Bennu's average spectrum with a strong 1-µm band absorption, possibly from pyroxene-rich material, and (ii) mixing with a weak 1-µm band absorption. The endmember with a strong 1-µm feature is consistent with Howardite-Eucrite-Diogenite (HED) meteorites, whereas the one showing a weak 1-µm feature may be consistent with HEDs, ordinary chondrites, or carbonaceous chondrites. The variation in the few available near-infrared reflectance spectra strongly suggests varying compositions among the exogenic materials. Thus, Bennu might record the remnants of multiple impacts with different compositions to its parent body, which could have happened in the very early history of the Solar System. Moreover, at least one of the exogenic objects is compositionally different from the exogenic materials found on the similar asteroid (162173) Ryugu, and they suggest different impact tracks.



2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iskander Gazizov ◽  
Sergei Zenevich ◽  
Oleg Benderov ◽  
Alexander Rodin

<p>We present a concept of near-infrared FMCW lidar for real-time low-resolution imaging velocimetry and range finding of moving objects. One of the problems this instrument to challenge is the detection of unmanned aerial vehicles in an urban environment. The use of a lidar-based system is either in the detection of the object itself or of the wingtip vortices generated by rotating blades. A significant drawback of typical wind lidar is the long measurement time associated with the need to scan the area of ​​interest, therefore we propose an 8x2 matrix of receivers to reduce the total scan time. The main feature of the instrument is the use of commercially available components, including DFB lasers and single-mode fiber for the optical circuit, which can significantly reduce the cost of the device, as well as development time. Data processing and laser control are handled by the FPGA. The characteristics of the multichannel lidar are estimated based on ongoing testing of the single-channel prototype.</p><p><strong>Acknowledgements</strong></p><p>This work has been supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research grants #19-29-06104</p>



2019 ◽  
Vol 626 ◽  
pp. A42 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. López-Sisterna ◽  
E. García-Migani ◽  
R. Gil-Hutton

Aims. We present the results of a polarimetric survey of main-belt asteroids at Complejo Astronómico El Leoncito (CASLEO), San Juan, Argentina. The aims of this survey are to increase the database of asteroid polarimetry and to estimate the diversity in the polarimetric properties of asteroids. Methods. The survey began in 1995 and a second period began in 2013 using the CASPOL polarimeter with a more sensitive detector to study small asteroids, families, and special taxonomic groups. The data were obtained using this instrument at the 2.15 m telescope of CASLEO. Results. We present 128 observations for 82 asteroids of different taxonomic types. These results revealed phase-polarization curves and polarimetric parameters for 20 asteroids, amounting to a total of 135 objects with sufficient good data in the Catalogue of Asteroid Polarization Curves. Using the values obtained for the objects with a taxonomic classification, we obtained the mean polarimetric parameters for 19 taxonomic types and the Barbarians. The asteroids with large mean scatter separation distances have a minimum of the phase-polarization curve greater than − 1%, slopes at the inversion angle of less than 0.12−0.15% per degree, and perihelion distances 1.8 < q < 2.5 au; these measurements indicate the asteroids could have high or moderate albedos and that they are objects with perihelia in the inner asteroid belt. These large mean scatter separation distance values could be the result of an electrostatic mechanism acting on the small grains of the regolith, a manifestation of a coherent backscattering mechanism, or the result of a surface formed by a mixture of dark and bright particles.



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