Spectra of asteroid families in support of Gaia

    Authors

    H. Campins; J. de Leon; J. Licandro; M. S. Kelley; Y. Fernandez; J. Ziffer;D. Nesvorny

    Comments

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    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

    WOS:000314007400018

    ISSN

    0032-0633

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