A Spectroscopically Unique Main-Belt Asteroid: 10537 (1991 RY16)
Abstract
We present visible and near-infrared reflectance spectra and interpreted surface mineralogy for asteroid 10537 (1991 RY16). The spectrum of this object is without precedent among the main-belt asteroids. A unique absorption band centered at 0.63 μm could be attributed to one of several mineralogies. Pronounced 1 and 2 μm absorption bands suggest that the composition of 10537 is a mixture of pyroxenes and olivine and that it originated from a parent body that was partially or fully differentiated. The closest available analog is the large main-belt asteroid 349 Dembowska, but 10537 may be an isolated fragment from a completely eroded parent body.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- July 2008
- DOI:
- 10.1086/591030
- arXiv:
- arXiv:0806.2185
- Bibcode:
- 2008ApJ...682L..57M
- Keywords:
-
- minor planets;
- asteroids;
- solar system: formation;
- Astrophysics
- E-Print:
- 14 pages, 3 figures, to be published in ApJ Letters