Distribution of taxonomic classes and the compositional structure of the asteroid beltThis paper reviews previous studies on the distribution of the asteroid taxonomic classes and analyzes the techniques, results, and interpretations of these studies, with special attention given to the strong and weak points of these studies and the important caveat for their interpretation. It is concluded that, in spite of the differences in class definition, the rather ordered heliocentric distribution of the composition is real and must be due to either primordial, evolutionary, or dynamical processes, or to a combination of all three. In general, the distribution of asteroid taxonomic classes is characterized by moderate-albedo asteroids dominant in the inner asteroid belt, and low-albedo asteroids prevalent in the outer belt and beyond.
Document ID
19900039964
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Gradie, Jonathan C. (Hawaii, University Honolulu, United States)
Chapman, Clark R. (Planetary Science Institute Tucson, AZ, United States)
Tedesco, Edward F. (JPL Pasadena, CA, United States)