Solar wind as the origin of rapid reddening of asteroid surfaces.
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| Title: | Solar wind as the origin of rapid reddening of asteroid surfaces. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Vernazza, P., Binzel, R. P., Rossi, A., Fulchignoni, M., Birlan, M. |
| Source: | Nature. 4/23/2009, Vol. 458 Issue 7241, p993-995. 3p. 3 Graphs. |
| Subjects: | Astronomy, Asteroids, Spectral reflectance, Optical reflection, Solar wind, Weathering, Silicates spectra, Particle size distribution |
| Abstract: | A comparison of the laboratory reflectance spectra of meteorites with observations of asteroids revealed that the latter are much ‘redder’, with the spectral difference explained by ‘space weathering’, though the actual processes and timescales involved have remained controversial. A recent study of young asteroid families concluded that they suffered only minimal space weathering. Here we report additional observations of those families, revealing that space weathering must be a very rapid process—the final colour of a silicate-rich asteroid is acquired shortly after its ‘birth’ (within 106 years of undergoing a catastrophic collision). This rapid timescale favours solar wind implantation as the main mechanism of space weathering, as laboratory experiments have shown that it is the most rapid of several competing processes. We further demonstrate the necessity to take account of composition when evaluating weathering effectiveness, as both laboratory and asteroid data show an apparent dependence of weathering on olivine abundance. The rapid colour change that we find implies that colour trends seen among asteroids are most probably due to compositional or surface-particle-size properties, rather than to different relative ages. Apparently fresh surfaces most frequently seen among small near-Earth asteroids may be the result of tidal shaking that rejuvenates their surfaces during planetary encounters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Nature is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection |
| FullText | Links: – Type: pdflink Text: Availability: 0 |
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| Header | DbId: pbh DbLabel: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection An: 38219465 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Solar wind as the origin of rapid reddening of asteroid surfaces. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Vernazza%2C+P%2E%22">Vernazza, P.</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Binzel%2C+R%2E+P%2E%22">Binzel, R. P.</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Rossi%2C+A%2E%22">Rossi, A.</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Fulchignoni%2C+M%2E%22">Fulchignoni, M.</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Birlan%2C+M%2E%22">Birlan, M.</searchLink> – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Nature%22">Nature</searchLink>. 4/23/2009, Vol. 458 Issue 7241, p993-995. 3p. 3 Graphs. – Name: Subject Label: Subjects Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Astronomy%22">Astronomy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Asteroids%22">Asteroids</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Spectral+reflectance%22">Spectral reflectance</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Optical+reflection%22">Optical reflection</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Solar+wind%22">Solar wind</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Weathering%22">Weathering</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Silicates+spectra%22">Silicates spectra</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Particle+size+distribution%22">Particle size distribution</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: A comparison of the laboratory reflectance spectra of meteorites with observations of asteroids revealed that the latter are much ‘redder’, with the spectral difference explained by ‘space weathering’, though the actual processes and timescales involved have remained controversial. A recent study of young asteroid families concluded that they suffered only minimal space weathering. Here we report additional observations of those families, revealing that space weathering must be a very rapid process—the final colour of a silicate-rich asteroid is acquired shortly after its ‘birth’ (within 106 years of undergoing a catastrophic collision). This rapid timescale favours solar wind implantation as the main mechanism of space weathering, as laboratory experiments have shown that it is the most rapid of several competing processes. We further demonstrate the necessity to take account of composition when evaluating weathering effectiveness, as both laboratory and asteroid data show an apparent dependence of weathering on olivine abundance. The rapid colour change that we find implies that colour trends seen among asteroids are most probably due to compositional or surface-particle-size properties, rather than to different relative ages. Apparently fresh surfaces most frequently seen among small near-Earth asteroids may be the result of tidal shaking that rejuvenates their surfaces during planetary encounters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Nature is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1038/nature07956 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 3 StartPage: 993 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Astronomy Type: general – SubjectFull: Asteroids Type: general – SubjectFull: Spectral reflectance Type: general – SubjectFull: Optical reflection Type: general – SubjectFull: Solar wind Type: general – SubjectFull: Weathering Type: general – SubjectFull: Silicates spectra Type: general – SubjectFull: Particle size distribution Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Solar wind as the origin of rapid reddening of asteroid surfaces. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Vernazza, P. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Binzel, R. P. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Rossi, A. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Fulchignoni, M. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Birlan, M. IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 23 M: 04 Text: 4/23/2009 Type: published Y: 2009 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 00280836 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 458 – Type: issue Value: 7241 Titles: – TitleFull: Nature Type: main |
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