SPECTRAL PROPERTIES OF NEAR-EARTH ASTEROIDS - EVIDENCE FOR SOURCES OF ORDINARY CHONDRITE METEORITES

摘要

Although ordinary chondrite (OC) meteorites dominate observed falls, the identification of near-Earth and main-belt asteroid sources has remained elusive, Telescopic measurements of 35 near-Earth asteroids (similar to 3 kilometers in diameter) revealed six that have visible wavelength spectra similar to laboratory spectra of OC meteorites. Near-Earth asteroids were found to have spectral properties that span the range between the previously separated domains of OC meteorites and the most common (S class) asteroids, suggesting a link. This range of spectral properties could arise through a diversity of mineralogies and regolith particle sizes, as well as through a time-dependent surface weathering process.