- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/AJ/152/54
- Title:
- Spectroscopy of main-belt Ch/Cgh-type asteroids
- Short Name:
- J/AJ/152/54
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- CM chondrites are the most common type of hydrated meteorites, making up ~1.5% of all falls. Whereas most CM chondrites experienced only low-temperature (~0{deg}C-120{deg}C) aqueous alteration, the existence of a small fraction of CM chondrites that suffered both hydration and heating complicates our understanding of the early thermal evolution of the CM parent body(ies). Here, we provide new constraints on the collisional and thermal history of CM-like bodies from a comparison between newly acquired spectral measurements of main-belt Ch/Cgh-type asteroids (70 objects) and existing laboratory spectral measurements of CM chondrites. It first appears that the spectral variation observed among CM-like bodies is essentially due to variations in the average regolith grain size. Second, the spectral properties of the vast majority (unheated) of CM chondrites resemble both the surfaces and the interiors of CM-like bodies, implying a "low" temperature (<300{deg}C) thermal evolution of the CM parent body(ies). It follows that an impact origin is the likely explanation for the existence of heated CM chondrites. Finally, similarly to S-type asteroids and (2) Pallas, the surfaces of large (D>100km) - supposedly primordial - Ch/Cgh-type main-belt asteroids likely expose the interiors of the primordial CM parent bodies, a possible consequence of impacts by small asteroids (D<10km) in the early solar system.
Number of results to display per page
Search Results
- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/A+A/650/A129
- Title:
- SPHERE (87) Sylvia images
- Short Name:
- J/A+A/650/A129
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- Dynamical models of Solar System evolution have suggested that the so-called P- and D-type volatile-rich asteroids formed in the outer Solar System beyond Neptune's orbit and may be genetically related to the Jupiter Trojans, comets, and small Kuiper belt objects (KBOs). Indeed, the spectral properties of P- and D-type asteroids resemble that of anhydrous cometary dust. We aim to gain insights into the above classes of bodies by characterizing the internal structure of a large P- and D-type asteroid. We report high-angular-resolution imaging observations of the P-type asteroid (87) Sylvia with the the Very Large Telescope (VLT) Spectro-Polarimetric High-contrast Exoplanet REsearch (SPHERE) instrument. These images were used to reconstruct the 3D shape of Sylvia. Our images together with those obtained in the past with large ground-based telescopes were used to study the dynamics of its two satellites. We also modeled Sylvia's thermal evolution. The shape of Sylvia appears flattened and elongated (a/b~1.45; a/c~1.84). We derive a volume-equivalent diameter of 271+/-5km and a low density of 1378+/-45kg/m^3^. The two satellites orbit Sylvia on circular, equatorial orbits. The oblateness of Sylvia should imply a detectable nodal precession which contrasts with the fully-Keplerian dynamics of its two satellites. This reveals an inhomogeneous internal structure, suggesting that Sylvia is differentiated. Sylvia's low density and differentiated interior can be explained by partial melting and mass redistribution through water percolation. The outer shell should be composed of material similar to interplanetary dust particles (IDPs) and the core should be similar to aqueously altered IDPs or carbonaceous chondrite meteorites such as the Tagish Lake meteorite. Numerical simulations of the thermal evolution of Sylvia show that for a body of such a size, partial melting was unavoidable due to the decay of long-lived radionuclides. In addition, we show that bodies as small as 130-150km in diameter should have followed a similar thermal evolution, while smaller objects, such as comets and the KBO Arrokoth, must have remained pristine, which is in agreement with in situ observations of these bodies. NASA Lucy mission target (617) Patroclus (diameter ~140km) may, however, be differentiated.
- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/A+A/623/A132
- Title:
- SPHERE/ZIMPOL (41) Daphne images
- Short Name:
- J/A+A/623/A132
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- CM-like asteroids (Ch and Cgh classes) are a major population within the broader C-complex, encompassing about 10% of the mass of the main asteroid belt. Their internal structure has been predicted to be homogeneous, based on their compositional similarity as inferred from spectroscopy (Vernazza et al., 2016AJ....152..154G) and numerical modeling of their early thermal evolution (Bland & Travis, 2017, Sci. Adv. 3, e1602514). Here we aim to test this hypothesis by deriving the density of the CM-like asteroid (41) Daphne from detailed modeling of its shape and the orbit of its small satellite. We observed Daphne and its satellite within our imaging survey with the Very Large Telescope extreme adaptive-optics SPHERE/ZIMPOL camera (ID 199.C-0074, PI P. Vernazza) and complemented this data set with earlier Keck/NIRC2 and VLT/NACO observations. We analyzed the dynamics of the satellite with our Genoid meta-heuristic algorithm. Combining our high-angular resolution images with optical lightcurves and stellar occultations, we determine the spin period, orientation, and 3-D shape, using our ADAM shape modeling algorithm. The satellite orbits Daphne on an equatorial, quasi-circular, prograde orbit, like the satellites of many other large main-belt asteroids. The shape model of Daphne reveals several large flat areas that could be large impact craters. The mass determined from this orbit combined with the volume computed from the shape model implies a density for Daphne of 1.77+/-0.26g/cm^3^ (3{sigma}). This density is consistent with a primordial CM-like homogeneous internal structure with some level of macroporosity (~17%). Based on our analysis of the density of Daphne and 75 other Ch/Cgh-type asteroids gathered from the literature, we conclude that the primordial internal structure of the CM parent bodies was homogeneous.
- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/A+A/618/A154
- Title:
- SPHERE/ZIMPOL (89) Julia images
- Short Name:
- J/A+A/618/A154
- Date:
- 23 Mar 2022 16:27:22
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- The vast majority of the geophysical and geological constraints (e.g., internal structure, cratering history) for main-belt asteroids have so far been obtained via dedicated interplanetary missions (e.g., ESA Rosetta, NASA Dawn). The high angular resolution of SPHERE/ZIMPOL, the new-generation visible adaptive-optics camera at ESO VLT, implies that these science objectives can now be investigated from the ground for a large fraction of D>=100km main-belt asteroids. The sharp images acquired by this instrument can be used to accurately constrain the shape and thus volume of these bodies (hence density when combined with mass estimates) and to characterize the distribution and topography of D>=30km craters across their surfaces. Here, via several complementary approaches, we evaluated the recently proposed hypothesis that the S-type asteroid (89) Julia is the parent body of a small compact asteroid family that formed via a cratering collisional event. We observed (89) Julia with VLT/SPHERE/ZIMPOL throughout its rotation, derived its 3D shape, and performed a reconnaissance and characterization of the largest craters. We also performed numerical simulations to first confirm the existence of the Julia family and to determine its age and the size of the impact crater at its origin. Finally, we utilized the images/3D shape in an attempt to identify the origin location of the small collisional family. On the one hand, our VLT/SPHERE observations reveal the presence of a large crater (D~75km) in Julia's southern hemisphere. On the other hand, our numerical simulations suggest that (89) Julia was impacted 30-120Myrs ago by a D~8km asteroid, thereby creating a D>=60km impact crater at the surface of Julia. Given the small size of the impactor, the obliquity of Julia and the particular orientation of the family in the (a,i) space, the imaged impact crater is likely to be the origin of the family. New doors into ground-based asteroid exploration, namely, geophysics and geology, are being opened thanks to the unique capabilities of VLT/SPHERE. Also, the present work may represent the beginning of a new era of asteroid-family studies. In the fields of geophysics, geology, and asteroid family studies, the future will only get brighter with the forthcoming arrival of 30-40m class telescopes like ELT, TMT, and GMT.
- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/AJ/159/230
- Title:
- Stellar occultation by (541132) Leleakuhonua
- Short Name:
- J/AJ/159/230
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- A stellar occultation by the extreme large-perihelion trans-Neptunian object (541132)-Leleakuhonua (also known by the provisional designation of 2015TG_387_) was predicted by the Lucky Star project and observed with the Research and Education Collaborative Occultation Network (RECON) on 2018-October-20-UT. A single detection and a nearby nondetection provide constraints for the size and albedo. When a circular profile is assumed, the radius is r=110_-10_^+14^km, corresponding to a geometric albedo p_V_=0.21_-0.05_^+0.03^, for an adopted absolute magnitude of HV=5.6, typical of other objects in dynamically similar orbits. The occultation also provides a high-precision astrometric constraint.
- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/ApJ/882/L22
- Title:
- Subaru obs. of Vesta in MIR spectral range
- Short Name:
- J/ApJ/882/L22
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- Plagioclase feldspars are among the most prevalent minerals in the solar system, and are present in many chondritic and achondritic meteorite families. Nevertheless, spectral features of plagioclases have never been unambiguously and directly observed in remote observations of asteroids. We report here the detection of an absorption band at 12.2{mu}m on Vesta spectra provided by ground-based spectral observations at the Subaru Telescope. This signature represents the first direct evidence of a widespread presence of crystalline Ca-rich plagioclase on Vesta and reveals that its regolith is comminuted to a very fine grain size, smaller than a few tens of microns, indicating that the mechanical brecciation process has been very effective. The crystalline nature of plagioclase strongly suggests that impacts alone cannot be the sole mechanism for regolith formation on Vesta and a milder process, such as thermal fatigue, should be invoked as an important and concomitant process Thermal fatigue should be considered a very effective process in regolith production and rejuvenation not only for near-Earth asteroids but even for large asteroids located in the main belt.
- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/A+A/610/A25
- Title:
- Sulamitis and Clarissa asteroids spectra
- Short Name:
- J/A+A/610/A25
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- The low-inclination (i<80{deg}) primitive asteroid families in the inner main belt, that is, Polana-Eulalia, Erigone, Sulamitis, and Clarissa, are considered to be the most likely sources of near-Earth asteroids (101955) Bennu and (162173) Ryugu. These two primitive NEAs will be visited by NASA OSIRIS-REx and JAXA Hayabusa 2 missions, respectively, with the aim of collecting samples of material from their surfaces and returning them back to Earth. In this context, the Primitive Asteroid Spectroscopic Survey (PRIMASS) was born, with the main aim to characterize the possible origins of these NEAs and constrain their dynamical evolution. As part of the PRIMASS survey we have already studied the Polana and Erigone collisional families in previously published works. The main goal of the work presented here is to compositionally characterize the Sulamitis and Clarissa families using visible spectroscopy. We have observed 97 asteroids (64 from Sulamitis and 33 from Clarissa) with the OSIRIS instrument (0.5-0.9um) at the 10.4m Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC). We found that about 60% of the sampled asteroids from the Sulamitis family show signs of aqueous alteration on their surfaces. We also found that the majority of the Clarissa members present no signs of hydration. The results obtained here show similarities between Sulamitis-Erigone, and Clarissa-Polana collisional families.
- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/ApJS/219/27
- Title:
- Surveys of asteroid rotation periods using iPTF
- Short Name:
- J/ApJS/219/27
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- Two dedicated asteroid rotation-period surveys have been carried out in the R band with ~20 minute cadence using the intermediate Palomar Transient Factory (iPTF) during 2014 January 6-9 and February 20-23. The total survey area covered 174deg^2^ in the ecliptic plane. Reliable rotation periods for 1438 asteroids are obtained from a larger data set of 6551 mostly main-belt asteroids, each with >=10 detections. Analysis of 1751, PTF-based, reliable rotation periods clearly shows the spin barrier at ~2hr for rubble-pile asteroids. We found a new large super-fast rotator, 2005 UW163, and another five candidates as well. For asteroids of 3<D<15km, our spin-rate distribution shows a number decrease along with frequency after 5 rev/day, which is consistent with the results of the Asteroid Light Curve Database. The discrepancy between our work and that of Pravec et al. (update 2014 April 20) comes mainly from asteroids with {Delta}_m_<0.2mag, which could be the result of different survey strategies. For asteroids with D<3km, we see a significant number drop at f=6rev/day. The relatively short YORP effect timescale for small asteroids could have spun up those elongated objects to reach their spin-rate limit resulting in breakup to create such a number deficiency. We also see that the C-type asteroids show a smaller spin-rate limit than the S-type, which agrees with the general impression that C-type asteroids have a lower bulk density than S-type asteroids.
- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/A+A/617/A12
- Title:
- Taxonomic classification of asteroids
- Short Name:
- J/A+A/617/A12
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- We tabulate the taxonomic classification of 18265 asteroids catalogued by MOVIS. A probabilistic method and the k-nearest neighbors (KNN k=3) algorithm are used to assign a taxonomic type for each object.
- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/AJ/151/11
- Title:
- Taxonomy of potentially hazardous asteroids
- Short Name:
- J/AJ/151/11
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- Through their delivery of water and organics, near-Earth objects (NEOs) played an important role in the emergence of life on our planet. However, they also pose a hazard to the Earth, as asteroid impacts could significantly affect our civilization. Potentially hazardous asteroids (PHAs) are those that, in principle, could possibly impact the Earth within the next century, producing major damage. About 1600 PHAs are currently known, from an estimated population of 4700+/-1450. However, a comprehensive characterization of the PHA physical properties is still missing. Here we present spectroscopic observations of 14 PHAs, which we have used to derive their taxonomy, meteorite analogs, and mineralogy. Combining our results with the literature, we investigated how PHAs are distributed as a function of their dynamical and physical properties. In general, the ''carbonaceous'' PHAs seem to be particularly threatening, because of their high porosity (limiting the effectiveness of the main deflection techniques that could be used in space) and low inclination and minimum orbit intersection distance (MOID) with the Earth (favoring more frequent close approaches). V-type PHAs also present low MOID values, which can produce frequent close approaches (as confirmed by the recent discovery of a limited space weathering on their surfaces). We also identified those specific objects that deserve particular attention because of their extreme rotational properties, internal strength, or possible cometary nature. For PHAs and NEOs in general, we identified a possible anti-correlation between the elongation and the rotational period, in the range of P_rot_~5-80hr. This would be compatible with the behavior of gravity-dominated aggregates in rotational equilibrium. For periods >~80-90hr, such a trend stops, possibly under the influence of the YORP effect and collisions. However, the statistics is very low, and further observational and theoretical work is required to characterize such slow rotators.
