1 / 5

Spectral and mineralogical diversity among the M-asteroids

Spectral and mineralogical diversity among the M-asteroids. P.S. Hardersen 1 , M.J. Gaffey 1 , P.A. Abell 2 , E.A. Cloutis 3 , V. Reddy 1 , S.K. Fieber-Beyer 1 1 University of North Dakota 2 NASA Johnson Space Center 3 University of Winnipeg. M-type Asteroids.

emory
Download Presentation

Spectral and mineralogical diversity among the M-asteroids

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Spectral and mineralogical diversity among the M-asteroids P.S. Hardersen1, M.J. Gaffey1, P.A. Abell2, E.A. Cloutis3, V. Reddy1, S.K. Fieber-Beyer1 1 University of North Dakota 2 NASA Johnson Space Center 3 University of Winnipeg

  2. M-type Asteroids • Asteroids belonging to the taxonomic M-class have historically been identified based on relatively featureless spectra over visible wavelengths, and moderate albedos of ~20%. • Based on these spectral properties, M-type asteroids have been interpreted as having a metallic (Fe-Ni) or enstatite chondritic surface composition. • These asteroids have often been thought to be core fragments of once-larger differentiated parent bodies, exposed over time through collisional processes. • Extending the study of M-type asteroids into the near-IR will improve our understanding of the compositions of these objects.

  3. IRTF: M-asteroid research Olivine feature. Low-Fe pyroxene feature. CV/CO-chondrite analogue?

  4. IRTF: M-asteroid research • April 2005: Hardersen et al. (2005) show that six of eight M-asteroids have weak ~0.9-micron absorption features. • Primary interpretation: Features caused by surface low-Fe pyroxenes. • March 2006 (LPSC): Additional M-asteroids show spectral evidence of: • low-Fe pyroxene on additional asteroids. • weak olivine spectral features. • spectra similar to CO/CV-chondrites. • weak spinel-like features.

  5. IRTF: M-asteroid research • Implications: The surface mineralogies of the Tholen M-asteroid group are spectrally and mineralogically diverse. Thus M-asteroids include objects with varying geological and thermal histories. • January 2007: Data have been obtained on 39 of the 47 Tholen M-asteroids with the IRTF/SpeX. Should obtain ~100% M-asteroid spectra by the conclusion of this program. • Application: M-asteroid spectra and interpretations are useful for understanding the thermal history of the main asteroid belt.

More Related