Developing space weathering on the asteroid 25143 Itokaw
Article Abstract:
A dark region on a small asteroid, 25143 Itokawa, is found to be more space-weathered than a nearby bright region and the spectra of both regions are consistent with those of LL5-6 chondrites after continuum removal. The results have shown that space-weathered materials accumulate on small asteroids, which are likely to be the parent bodies of LL chondrites, concluding that because LL meteorites are the least abundant of ordinary (H, L and LL) chondrites, there must be many asteroids with ordinary-chondrite compositions in near-Earth orbits.
Publication Name: Nature
Subject: Zoology and wildlife conservation
ISSN: 0028-0836
Year: 2006
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Acceleration of the rotation of asteroid 1862 Apollo by radiation torques
Article Abstract:
The Yarkovsky-O'Keefe-Radzievskii-Paddack or YORP mechanism is used to explain the change in the rotation rate of the asteroid 1862 Apollo. The change visible from photometric lightcurves amounts to one extra rotation cycle in just 40 years even though Apollo's size is well over one kilometer, confirming the prediction that the YORP effect plays a significant part in the dynamical evolution of asteroids.
Publication Name: Nature
Subject: Zoology and wildlife conservation
ISSN: 0028-0836
Year: 2007
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Giants in the asteroid belt
Article Abstract:
New research indicates that there may once have been Earth-sized planets in the asteroid belt. However, random events and complex dynamics combined to remove these planets. Instability created by resonances could have prompted asteroidal embryos rich in volatiles to crash into the Earth, creating oceans.
Publication Name: Nature
Subject: Zoology and wildlife conservation
ISSN: 0028-0836
Year: 2001
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