Title
Spectra of asteroid families in support of Gaia
Abbreviated Journal Title
Planet Space Sci.
Keywords
Minor planets; Asteroids-general; Orbits; Spacecraft; Spectra; Collisions; WATER-ICE; ORGANICS; SPECTROSCOPY; SURFACE; ORIGIN; THEMIS; BELT; Astronomy & Astrophysics
Abstract
Spectroscopy of asteroids can be diagnostic of their surface composition and other properties such as internal structure. The European Space Agency's Gaia mission will result in a dramatic increase in the number and quality of asteroid spectra in the 0.35-0.9 mu m wavelength range. This homogeneous set of spectra, with high sensitivity in the near-ultraviolet, will be of great benefit to the study of asteroids. In this work, we focus on Gala's expected contributions to the understanding of asteroids families and we use the Themis family as an example. Spectra of main belt asteroids as small as 2 km in diameter will constrain or determine the composition and thermal evolution of a family's parent body. In the case of the Themis family, Gala's spectra will also help establish the role of water and hydrated minerals in the evolution of this family, including the puzzling nature of the "main belt comets" or "activated asteroids" within this family. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Journal Title
Planetary and Space Science
Volume
73
Issue/Number
1
Publication Date
1-1-2012
Document Type
Article
Language
English
First Page
95
Last Page
97
WOS Identifier
ISSN
0032-0633
Recommended Citation
"Spectra of asteroid families in support of Gaia" (2012). Faculty Bibliography 2010s. 2349.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/facultybib2010/2349
Comments
Authors: contact us about adding a copy of your work at STARS@ucf.edu