Light-curve observations have shown that most asteroids are non-axially symmetrical in shape, probably as a result of fragmentation undergone by objects with negligible gravitational binding. The authors report here results from hypervelocity experiments performed at ≡10 km s-1 against free-falling bodies. They found that, regardless of the very different experimental conditions, the shape distribution obtained is in good agreement with that of the main-belt asteroids of diameter smaller than ≡100 km. This distribution is not consistent with either the symmetrical shapes of the gravity-dominated asteroids, or the elongated Apollo-Amor objects.
Autori interni: | |
Autori: | CAPACCIONI F; CERRONI P; CORADINI M; FARINELLA P; FLAMINI E; MARTELLI G; PAOLICCHI P; SMITH P. N; ZAPPALA V |
Titolo: | Shapes of asteroids compared with fragments from hypervelocity impact experiments |
Anno del prodotto: | 1984 |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI): | 10.1038/308832a0 |
Appare nelle tipologie: | 1.1 Articolo in rivista |