Title
Internal structure and physical properties of the Asteroid 2008 TC3 inferred from a study of the Almahata Sitta meteorites
Abbreviated Journal Title
Icarus
Keywords
Asteroids; Meteorites; Near-Earth objects; DENSITY; UREILITES; RECOVERY; POROSITY; Astronomy & Astrophysics
Abstract
The density measurements of Almahata Sitta ureilites reveal a bulk density of similar to 3.1 g/cm(3). This value, together with the 2008 TC3 asteroid shape model and albedo, was used to estimate the asteroid's mass. Based on the study of recovered meteorites and atmospheric entry observations Asteroid 2008 TC3 is compositionally heterogeneous and of low mechanical strength. Thus we consider the presence of significant macroporosity likely, lowering asteroid's bulk density compared to that of the Almahata Sitta ureilites. Most realistic albedos lie in a range of 0.09-0.2 and the presence of significant macroporosity leads to mass estimates below 20 x 10(3) kg, which is lower than previously estimated. The presence of a non-ureilitic fraction and space weathering may affect the albedo and also influence the mass estimates. However, from current data it is not possible to quantify this effect. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Journal Title
Icarus
Volume
212
Issue/Number
2
Publication Date
1-1-2011
Document Type
Article
Language
English
First Page
697
Last Page
700
WOS Identifier
ISSN
0019-1035
Recommended Citation
"Internal structure and physical properties of the Asteroid 2008 TC3 inferred from a study of the Almahata Sitta meteorites" (2011). Faculty Bibliography 2010s. 1493.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/facultybib2010/1493
Comments
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