Reflectance spectrophotometry (～0.5–1.0 μm) of outer-belt asteroids: Implications for primitive,organic solar system material |
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| Authors: | Faith Vilas Bradford A Smith |
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| Institution: | Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA |
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| Abstract: | Narrowband spectrophotometric observations of outer-belt asteroids (semi-major axis greater than 3.2 AU) have been used to investigate the surface compositions of the D- and P-class asteroids in an effort to learn about their origins and formation conditions. Spectra of 19 outer-belt asteroids and 2 main-belt D-class asteroids were obtained using two charge-coupled device spectrographs. No mineralogical absorption features were evident. The spectra can be divided into four groups based upon four discrete slopes among the spectra. The slope increases (reddens) with increasing heliocentric distance. All of the outer-belt asteroids are locked into orbits controlled by Jupiter's gravitational attraction. The distinct slope changes suggest that these asteroids are the remnants of a gradation in composition of planetesimals in the outer Solar System, which were selectively retained in location when other material was ejected from the Solar System. The spectrophotometry of Iapetus and infrared photometry of quiescent comets of other researchers suggest that this compositional gradation could extend through the orbits of Uranus and Neptune. Two possible explanations for this compositional gradation based upon changes in organic polymer materials are discussed. |
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