An extensive analysis of the Maria family is presented. A reconstruction of the original ejection velocity field of the fragments suggests that a substantial number of relatively large fragments may have been injected into the neighboring 3/1 mean motion resonance with Jupiter. This also agrees with an analysis of the size distribution of the family, suggesting that about 10 objects in the size range 15-30 km have probably been lost. As a consequence, Maria's family can be seen as one of the most promising candidates for the source of the ``giant'' near-Earth asteroids 433 Eros and 1036 Ganymed. This is also supported by an extensive spectroscopic survey of the family members in the spectral range 5000-10000 A. The spectra obtained are very similar and are consistent with the known spectra of Eros and Ganymed.
Maria's Family: Physical Structure and Possible Implications for the Origin of Giant NEAs
PAOLICCHI, PAOLO
1997-01-01
Abstract
An extensive analysis of the Maria family is presented. A reconstruction of the original ejection velocity field of the fragments suggests that a substantial number of relatively large fragments may have been injected into the neighboring 3/1 mean motion resonance with Jupiter. This also agrees with an analysis of the size distribution of the family, suggesting that about 10 objects in the size range 15-30 km have probably been lost. As a consequence, Maria's family can be seen as one of the most promising candidates for the source of the ``giant'' near-Earth asteroids 433 Eros and 1036 Ganymed. This is also supported by an extensive spectroscopic survey of the family members in the spectral range 5000-10000 A. The spectra obtained are very similar and are consistent with the known spectra of Eros and Ganymed.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
