Study of the changes of the distribution of spectral properties of S-type asteroidal dynamical families with age: Mean values and Skewness.
Abstract
Correlations between family-age and the mean value of slope of the spectral distribution, caused by the cumulative effect of cosmic irradiation, have been established for S-type dynamical families by many authors. We noticed that if there is a variety in the primordial surface composition, then the typical timescale that determines the speed of this evolution is bound to have a range of values. Consequently, as the mean value of the color distribution tends to steeper (redder) slopes, a progressive skewness in this distribution should develop. Using SDSS-MOC-4 colors and NEOWISE albedos, we cross-examined the S-type families members as defined by both Nesvorny et al. (2015) and Spotto et al (2015) and retained only members with albedos and colors in the characteristic range of the S-types. We corroborate the color evolution with age and we compare our results with previous estimations. Using only the "true S-type" family members, we also find a significative correlation between some particular skewness-estimation parameters and age. Our results offer additional evidence of the effects of cosmic-radiation on asteroidal surfaces and may provide possible new relations to determine the age of S-type dynamical families. ReferencesNesvorny D.(2015). NASA Planetary Data System, id. EAR-A-VARGBDET-5-NESVORNYFAM-V3.0Spoto, F.; Milani, A.; Knežević, Z. (2015). Asteroid family ages. Icarus, Volume 257, p. 275-289.
- Publication:
-
European Planetary Science Congress
- Pub Date:
- September 2021
- DOI:
- 10.5194/epsc2021-464
- Bibcode:
- 2021EPSC...15..464M