Juan A. Sanchez

Exploring exogenic sources for the olivine on Asteroid (4) Vesta

Abstract The detection of olivine on Vesta is interesting because it may provide critical insights into planetary differentiation early in our Solar System’s history. Ground-based and Hubble Space Telescope (HST) observations of Asteroid (4) Vesta have suggested the presence of olivine on the surface. These observations were reinforced by the discovery of olivine-rich HED meteorites from Vesta in recent years. However, analysis of data from NASA’s Dawn spacecraft has shown that this “olivine-bearing unit” is actually impact melt in the ejecta of Oppia crater. The lack of widespread mantle olivine, exposed during the formation of the 19xa0km deep Rheasilvia basin on Vesta’s South Pole, further complicated this picture. Ammannito et al. (Ammannito, E. et al. [2013a]. Nature 504, 122–125) reported the discovery of local scale olivine-rich units in the form of excavated material from the mantle using the Visible and InfraRed spectrometer (VIR) on Dawn. These sites are concentrated in the walls and ejecta of craters Arruntia (10.5xa0km in diameter) and Bellicia (41.7xa0km in diameter), located in the northern hemisphere, 350–430xa0km from Rheasilvia basin’s rim. Here we explore alternative sources for the olivine in the northern hemisphere of Vesta by reanalyzing the data from the VIR instrument using laboratory spectral measurements of meteorites. Our rationale for using the published dataset was to bypass calibration issues and ensure a consistent dataset between the two studies. Our analysis of the VIR data shows that while the interpretation of their spectra as an olivine-rich unit is correct, the nature and origin of that olivine could be more complicated. We suggest that these olivine exposures could also be explained by the delivery of olivine-rich exogenic material. This hypothesis is supported by meteoritical evidence in the form of exogenic xenoliths containing significant amount of olivine in some of the HED meteorites from Vesta. Previous laboratory work on HEDs show that potential sources of olivine on Vesta could be different types of olivine-rich meteorites, either primitive achondrites (acapulcoites, lodranites, ureilites), ordinary chondrites (H, L, LL), pallasites, or carbonaceous chondrites (e.g., CV). Based on our spectral band parameters analysis, the lack of correlation between the location of these olivine-rich terrains and possible mantle-excavating events, and supported by observations of HED meteorites, we propose that a probable source for the olivine seen in the northern hemisphere corresponds to remnants of impactors made of olivine-rich meteorites. The best curve-matching results with laboratory spectra suggest these units are HED material mixed with either ordinary chondrites, or with some olivine-dominated meteorites such as R-chondrites.

Photometric Properties of Ceres from Telescopic Observations using Dawn Framing Camera Color Filters

Abstract The dwarf planet Ceres is likely differentiated similar to the terrestrial planets but with a water/ice dominated mantle and an aqueously altered crust. Detailed modeling of Ceres’ phase function has never been performed to understand its surface properties. The Dawn spacecraft began orbital science operations at the dwarf planet in April 2015. We observed Ceres with flight spares of the seven Dawn Framing Camera color filters mounted on ground-based telescopes over the course of three years to model its phase function versus wavelength. Our analysis shows that the modeled geometric albedos derived from both the IAU HG model and the Hapke model are consistent with a flat and featureless spectrum of Ceres, although the values are ∼10% higher than previous measurements. Our models also suggest a wavelength dependence of Ceres’ phase function. The IAU G-parameter and the Hapke single-particle phase function parameter, g, are both consistent with decreasing (shallower) phase slope with increasing wavelength. Such a wavelength dependence of phase function is consistent with reddening of spectral slope with increasing phase angle, or phase-reddening. This phase reddening is consistent with previous spectra of Ceres obtained at various phase angles archived in the literature, and consistent with the fact that the modeled geometric albedo spectrum of Ceres is the bluest of all spectra because it represents the spectrum at 0° phase angle. Ground-based FC color filter lightcurve data are consistent with HST albedo maps confirming that Ceres’ lightcurve is dominated by albedo and not shape. We detected a positive correlation between 1.1-μm absorption band depth and geometric albedo suggesting brighter areas on Ceres have absorption bands that are deeper. We did not see the “extreme” slope values measured by Perna et al. (Perna, D., et al. [2015]. Astron. Astrophys. 575 (L1-6)), which they have attributed to “resurfacing episodes” on Ceres.

Composition of Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (214869) 2007 PA8: An H Chondrite from the Outer Asteroid Belt

Potentially hazardous asteroids (PHAs) represent a unique opportunity for physical characterization during their close approaches to Earth. The proximity of these asteroids makes them accessible for sample-return and manned missions, but could also represent a risk for life on Earth in the event of collision. Therefore, a detailed mineralogical analysis is a key component in planning future exploration missions and developing appropriate mitigation strategies. In this study we present near-infrared spectra (0.7-2.55 microns) of PHA (214869) 2007 PA8 obtained with the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility during its close approach to Earth on November 2012. The mineralogical analysis of this asteroid revealed a surface composition consistent with H ordinary chondrites. In particular, we found that the olivine and pyroxene chemistries of 2007 PA8 are Fa18(Fo82) and Fs16, respectively. The olivine-pyroxene abundance ratio was estimated to be 47%. This low olivine abundance and the measured band parameters, close to the H4 and H5 chondrites, suggest that the parent body of 2007 PA8 experienced thermal metamorphism before being catastrophically disrupted. Based on the compositional affinity, proximity to the J5:2 resonance, and estimated flux of resonant objects we determined that the Koronis family is the most likely source region for 2007 PA8.

Link between the potentially hazardous Asteroid (86039) 1999 NC43 and the Chelyabinsk meteoroid tenuous

We explored the statistical and compositional link between Chelyabinsk meteoroid and potentially haz- ardous Asteroid (86039) 1999 NC43 to investigate their proposed relation proposed by Borovicka et al. (Borovicka, J., et al. (2013). Nature 503, 235-237). First, using a slightly more detailed computation we confirm that the orbit of the Chelyabinsk impactor is anomalously close to the Asteroid 1999 NC43. We find � (1-3) � 10 � 4 likelihood of that to happen by chance. Taking the standpoint that the Chelya- binsk impactor indeed separated from 1999 NC43 by a cratering or rotational fission event, we run a for- ward probability calculation, which is an independent statistical test. However, we find this scenario is unlikely at the � (10 � 3 -10

DETECTION OF WATER AND/OR HYDROXYL ON ASTEROID (16) Psyche

NASA [NNH14CK55B]; Eugene M. Shoemaker Postdoctoral Fellowship (NASA Planetary Geology and Geophysics Program); NASA Planetary Geology and Geophysics grants [NNX14AN05G, NNX14AN35G]; NASA Solar System Observing grant [NNX16AE91G]

Phase Angle Effects on 3 μm Absorption Band on Ceres: Implications for DAWN Mission

Phase angle-induced spectral effects are important to characterize since they affect spectral band parameters such as band depth and band center, and therefore skew mineralogical interpretations of planetary bodies via reflectance spectroscopy. Dwarf planet (1) Ceres is the next target of NASAs Dawn mission, which is expected to arrive in 2015 March. The visible and near-infrared mapping spectrometer (VIR) on board Dawn has the spatial and spectral range to characterize the surface between 0.25–5.0 μm. Ceres has an absorption feature at 3.0 μm due to hydroxyl- and/or water-bearing minerals. We analyzed phase angle-induced spectral effects on the 3 μm absorption band on Ceres using spectra measured with the long-wavelength cross-dispersed (LXD: 1.9–4.2 μm) mode of the SpeX spectrograph/imager at the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility. Ceres LXD spectra were measured at different phase angles ranging from 07 to 22°. We found that the band center slightly increases from 3.06 μm at lower phase angles (07 and 6°) to 3.07 μm at higher phase angles (11° and 22°), the band depth decreases by ~20% from lower phase angles to higher phase angles, and the band area decreases by ~25% from lower phase angles to higher phase angles. Our results will have implications for constraining the abundance of OH on the surface of Ceres from VIR spectral data, which will be acquired by Dawn starting spring 2015.

DETECTION OF ROTATIONAL SPECTRAL VARIATION ON THE M-TYPE ASTEROID (16) PSYCHE

NASA [NNX13AP27G, NNX12AG12G, NNX11AN84G]; IRTF TAC; National Aeronautics and Space Administration [NNX12AF24G, NNX13AQ46G]; Canada Foundation for Innovation; Manitoba Research Innovations Fund; Canadian Space Agency; Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada; University of Winnipeg

Ground-based characterization of Hayabusa2 mission target asteroid 162173 Ryugu: constraining mineralogical composition in preparation for spacecraft operations

NASA Hayabusa2 Participating Scientist grant [NNX16AK77G]; NASA Near-Earth Object Observations Program [NNX14AL06G, NNX17AJ19G]; Canadian Space Agency; Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada; Canada Foundation for Innovation; Manitoba Research Innovation Fund; University of Winnipeg; NASA Hayabusa2 Participating Scientists grants [NNX17AL02G]; NASA [NNH14CK55B]

Do L chondrites come from the Gefion family

IRTF TAC; National Aeronautics and Space Administration [NNH14CK55B]; NASA Planetary Geology and Geophysics Grants [NNX14AN05G, NNX14AM94G]; NASA Planetary Astronomy Grant [NNX14AJ37G]; NASA Undergraduate Space Grant Consortium

The Physical Characterization of the Potentially Hazardous Asteroid 2004 Bl86: A Fragment of a Differentiated Asteroid

The physical characterization of potentially hazardous asteroids (PHAs) is important for impact hazard assessment and evaluating mitigation options. Close flybys of PHAs provide an opportunity to study their surface photometric and spectral properties that enable the identification of their source regions in the main asteroid belt. We observed PHA (357439) 2004 BL86 during a close flyby of the Earth at a distance of 1.2 million km (0.0080 AU) on 2015 January 26, with an array of ground-based telescopes to constrain its photometric and spectral properties. Lightcurve observations showed that the asteroid was a binary and subsequent radar observations confirmed the binary nature and gave a primary diameter of 300 m and a secondary diameter of 50–100 m. Our photometric observations were used to derive the phase curve of 2004 BL86 in the V-band. Two different photometric functions were fitted to this phase curve, the IAU H–G model and the Shevchenko model. From the fit of the H–G function we obtained an absolute magnitude of H = 19.51 ± 0.02 and a slope parameter of G = 0.34 ± 0.02. The Shevchenko function yielded an absolute magnitude of H = 19.03 ± 0.07 and a phase coefficient b = 0.0225 ± 0.0006. The phase coefficient was used to calculate the geometric albedo (Ag) using the relationship found by Belskaya & Schevchenko, obtaining a value of Ag = 40% ± 8% in the V-band. With the geometric albedo and the absolute magnitudes derived from the H–G and the Shevchenko functions we calculated the diameter (D) of 2004 BL86, obtaining D = 263 ± 26 and D = 328 ± 35 m, respectively. 2004 BL86 spectral band parameters and pyroxene chemistry are consistent with non-cumulate eucrite meteorites. A majority of these meteorites are derived from Vesta and are analogous with surface lava flows on a differentiated parent body. A non-diagnostic spectral curve match using the Modeling for Asteroids tool yielded a best-match with non-cumulate eucrite Bereba. Three other near-Earth asteroids (1993 VW, 1998 KK17, and 2000 XH44) that were observed by Burbine et al. also have spectral properties similar to 2004 BL86. The presence of eucrites with anomalous oxygen isotope ratios compared to the howardites, eucrites, and diogenites meteorites from Vesta suggests the possible presence of multiple differentiated bodies in the inner main belt or the contamination of Vestas surface with exogenic material. The spectral properties of both anomalous and Vestan eucrites are degenerate, making it difficult to identify the parent bodies of anomalous eucrites in the main belt and the NEO population using remote sensing. This makes it difficult to link 2004 BL86 directly to Vesta, although the Vesta family is the largest contributor of V-types to near-Earth space.