Spectral properties of the largest asteroids associated with Taurid Complex

Popescu, M.; Birlan, Mirel; Nedelcu, A.; Vaubaillon, Jérémie; Cristescu, C.

doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201424064

Cited by 30 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 57 publications

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“…Popescu et al (2011) also find this NEO to be Sr class based on near infrared data. Asteroid 1984 KB was classified as S-class by Bell et al (1988) and Sq by Popescu et al (2014). Again, our classification of K/Sq places this object firmly within the S-complex of asteroids, and is consistent with the previous research.…”

Section: Neos Classification Based On the Shape Of Their Spectrumsupporting

confidence: 90%

“…An X-class classification is no surprise, as the X-complex comprises of E, M and P-class asteroids, all of which show a moderate red slope with no spectral features that can only be differentiated by albedo knowledge. This exactly describes comet Popescu et al (2014) we see a strong preference for S-complex asteroids in Taurid-like orbits. Two further objects from their sample are part of our 'Group 1' list, with the most secure association with the Taurids: (4183) Cuno and (4486) Mithra, found to be Q and Sq type respectively.…”

Section: Neos Classification Based On the Shape Of Their Spectrumsupporting

confidence: 59%

“…By observing in the visible with an 8m class telescope we could sample fainter objects within the Taurid complex, and observe the comet nucleus directly, adding to the work on brighter objects by Popescu et al (2014). We also perform a direct search for cometary activity around the NEOs.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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2P/Encke, the Taurid complex NEOs and the Maribo and Sutter’s Mill meteorites

Tubiana

Snodgrass

Michelsen

et al. 2015

A&A

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Aims. 2P/Encke is a short period comet that was discovered in 1786 and has been extensively observed and studied for more than 200 years. The Taurid meteoroid stream has long been linked with 2P/Encke owing to a good match of their orbital elements, even though the comet's activity is not strong enough to explain the number of observed meteors. Various small near-Earth objects (NEOs) have been discovered with orbits that can be linked to 2P/Encke and the Taurid meteoroid stream. Maribo and Sutter's Mill are CM type carbonaceous chondrite that fell in Denmark on January 17, 2009 and April 22, 2012, respectively. Their pre-atmospheric orbits place them in the middle of the Taurid meteoroid stream, which raises the intriguing possibility that comet 2P/Encke could be the parent body of CM chondrites. Methods. To investigate whether a relationship between comet 2P/Encke, the Taurid complex associated NEOs, and CM chondrites exists, we performed photometric and spectroscopic studies of these objects in the visible wavelength range. We observed 2P/Encke and 10 NEOs on August 2, 2011 with the FORS instrument at the 8.2 m Very Large Telescope on Cerro Paranal (Chile). Results. Images in the R filter, used to investigate the possible presence of cometary activity around the nucleus of 2P/Encke and the NEOs, show that no resolved coma is present. None of the FORS spectra show the 700 nm absorption feature due to hydrated minerals that is seen in the CM chondrite meteorites. All objects show featureless spectra with moderate reddening slopes at λ < 800 nm. Apart for 2003 QC 10 and 1999 VT 25 , which show a flatter spectrum, the spectral slope of the observed NEOs is compatible with that of 2P/Encke. However, most of the NEOs show evidence of a silicate absorption in lower S/N data at λ > 800 nm, which is not seen in 2P/Encke, which suggests that they are not related. Conclusions. Despite similar orbits, we find no spectroscopic evidence for a link between 2P/Encke, the Taurid complex NEOs and the Maribo and Sutter's Mill meteorites. However, we cannot rule out a connection to the meteorites either, as the spectral differences may be caused by secondary alteration of the surfaces of the NEOs.

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Section: Neos Classification Based On the Shape Of Their Spectrumsupporting

confidence: 90%

Section: Neos Classification Based On the Shape Of Their Spectrumsupporting

confidence: 59%

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2P/Encke, the Taurid complex NEOs and the Maribo and Sutter’s Mill meteorites

Tubiana

Snodgrass

Michelsen

et al. 2015

A&A

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“…So far, the efforts in finding traces of the common origin of the largest Taurid complex bodies gave rather sceptical results. Popescu et al (2014) studied the spectral properties of the largest asteroids associated with the Taurid complex, but found no evidence supporting mutual relation. Similarly, the spectroscopic and photometric measurements of Tubiana et al (2015) found no apparent link between comet 2P/Encke, the Taurid complex NEOs, and the Maribo and Sutter's Mill meteorites.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spectra and physical properties of Taurid meteoroids

Matlovič

Tóth

Rudawska

et al. 2017

Planetary and Space Science

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Taurids are an extensive stream of particles produced by comet 2P/Encke, which can be observed mainly in October and November as a series of meteor showers rich in bright fireballs. Several near-Earth asteroids have also been linked with the meteoroid complex, and recently the orbits of two carbonaceous meteorites were proposed to be related to the stream, raising interesting questions about the origin of the complex and the composition of 2P/Encke. Our aim is to investigate the nature and diversity of Taurid meteoroids by studying their spectral, orbital, and physical properties determined from video meteor observations. Here we analyze 33 Taurid meteor spectra captured during the predicted outburst in November 2015 by stations in Slovakia and Chile, including 14 multi-station observations for which the orbital elements, material strength parameters, dynamic pressures, and mineralogical densities were determined. It was found that while orbits of the 2015 Taurids show similarities with several associated asteroids, the obtained spectral and physical characteristics point towards cometary origin with highly heterogeneous content. Observed spectra exhibited large dispersion of iron content and significant Na intensity in all cases. The determined material strengths are typically cometary in the K B classification, while P E criterion is on average close to values characteristic for carbonaceous bodies. The studied meteoroids were found to break up under low dynamic pressures of 0.02 -0.10 MPa, and were characterized by low mineralogical densities of 1.3 -2.5 g cm -3 . The widest spectral classification of Taurid meteors to date is presented.

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“…Many proposed associations can be therefore just random coincidences. Indeed, the spectra of six large asteroids proposed as members of the Taurid complex showed that five of them are inconsistent with a cometary origin (Popescu et al 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Discovery of a new branch of the Taurid meteoroid stream as a real source of potentially hazardous bodies

Spurný

Borovička

Mucke³

et al. 2017

A&A

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Taurid meteor shower produces prolonged but usually low activity every October and November. In some years, however, the activity is significantly enhanced. Previous studies based on long-term activity statistics concluded that the enhancement is caused by a swarm of meteoroids locked in 7:2 resonance with Jupiter. Here we present precise data on 144 Taurid fireballs observed by new digital cameras of the European Fireball Network in the enhanced activity year 2015. Orbits of 113 fireballs show common characteristics and form together a well defined orbital structure, which we call new branch and which was evidently responsible for the enhanced activity. This new branch is part of Southern Taurids and was encountered by the Earth between October 25 and November 17. We found that this branch is characterized by longitudes of perihelia lying between 155.9-160• and latitudes of perihelia between 4.2-5.7• . Semimajor axes are between 2.23-2.28 AU and indeed overlap with the 7:2 resonance. Eccentricities are in wide range 0.80-0.90. The most eccentric orbits with lowest perihelion distances were encountered at the beginning of the activity period. The orbits form a concentric ring in the inner solar system. The masses of the observed meteoroids were in a wide range from 0.1 g to more than 1000 kg. We found that all meteoroids larger than 300 g were very fragile (type IIIB), while those smaller than 30 g were much more compact (mostly of type II and some of them even type I). Based on orbital characteristics, we argue that asteroids 2015 TX24 and 2005 UR, both of diameters 200-300 m, are direct members of the new branch. It is therefore very likely that the new branch contains also numerous still not discovered objects of decameter or even larger size. Since asteroids of sizes of tens to hundreds meters pose a threat to the ground even if they are intrinsically weak, impact hazard increases significantly when the Earth encounters the Taurid new branch every few years. Further studies leading to better description of this real source of potentially hazardous objects, which can be large enough to cause significant regional or even continental damage on the Earth, are therefore extremely important.

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Spectral properties of the largest asteroids associated with Taurid Complex

Cited by 30 publications

References 57 publications

2P/Encke, the Taurid complex NEOs and the Maribo and Sutter’s Mill meteorites

2P/Encke, the Taurid complex NEOs and the Maribo and Sutter’s Mill meteorites

Spectra and physical properties of Taurid meteoroids

Discovery of a new branch of the Taurid meteoroid stream as a real source of potentially hazardous bodies

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