Authors

H. Campins; A. Morbidelli; K. Tsiganis; J. de Leon; J. Licandro;D. Lauretta

Comments

Authors: contact us about adding a copy of your work at [email protected]

Abbreviated Journal Title

Astrophys. J. Lett.

Keywords

minor planets, asteroids: general; NEAR-EARTH ASTEROIDS; SPECTROSCOPIC SURVEY; PHASE-II; BELT; DISTRIBUTIONS; MAGNITUDE; FAMILIES; ORGANICS; SURFACE; ICE; Astronomy & Astrophysics

Abstract

Near-Earth asteroid (NEA) 101955 (1999 RQ(36); henceforth RQ36) is especially accessible to spacecraft and is the primary target of NASA's OSIRIS-REx sample return mission; it is also a potentially hazardous asteroid. We combine dynamical and spectral information to identify the most likely main-belt origin of RQ(36) and we conclude that it is the Polana family, located at a semimajor axis of about 2.42 AU. We also conclude that the Polana family may be the most important inner-belt source of low-albedo NEAs. These conclusions are based on the following results. (1) Dynamical evidence strongly favors an inner-belt, low-inclination (2.15 AU < a < 2.5 AU and i < 10 degrees) origin, suggesting the v(6) resonance as the preferred (95% probability) delivery route. (2) This region is dominated by the Nysa and Polana families. (3) The Polana family is characterized by low albedos and B-class spectra or colors, the same albedo and spectral class as RQ36. (4) The Sloan Digital Sky Survey colors show that the Polana family is the branch of the Nysa-Polana complex that extends toward the v(6) resonance; furthermore, the Polana family has delivered objects of the size of RQ36 and larger into the v(6) resonance. (5) A quantitative comparison of visible and near-infrared spectra does not yield a unique match for RQ36; however, it is consistent with a compositional link between RQ36 and the Polana family.

Journal Title

Astrophysical Journal Letters

Volume

721

Issue/Number

1

Publication Date

1-1-2010

Document Type

Article

Language

English

First Page

L53

Last Page

L57

WOS Identifier

WOS:000281610300012

ISSN

2041-8205

Download

Share

COinS
 

Accessibility Statement

This item was created or digitized prior to April 24, 2027, or is a reproduction of legacy media created before that date. It is preserved in its original, unmodified state specifically for research, reference, or historical recordkeeping. In accordance with the ADA Title II Final Rule, the University Libraries provides accessible versions of archival materials upon request. To request an accommodation for this item, please submit an accessibility request form.