A New Taxonomy of Asteroids Based on Visible and Near-Infrared Spectral Properties

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Present taxonomies, such as that of Tholen (1984) and Bus (1999), classify asteroids based on their spectral properties over visible wavelengths. With the advent of near-infrared instrumentation (such as SpeX on the NASA IRTF; Rayner 2003), an increasing number of asteroids have available spectra covering the range 0.45- to 2.45-microns. We seek to extend current Bus asteroid taxonomy to take advantage of the further spectral information provided over these longer wavelengths. We begin with 0.45- to 2.45-micron measurements of 365 asteroids, sampling all 26 of the classes defined by Bus (1999). We determine which of these classes remain robust (or converge or diverge) when extended to longer wavelengths. The new taxonomy is comprised by 24 classes. The definitions for these classes are quantified by spectral slope and five dimensions of Principle Component Analysis, accounting for a combined 99.9% of the variance. The most striking feature in this new principle component space is the separation of objects based on the presence or absence of a 2-micron absorption feature. We eliminated three Bus classes: Ld, Sl, and Sk. We are able to clarify, and in some cases redefine the Bus S subclasses (Sa, Sl, Sk, Sq, Sr). A new intermediate class, Sv, bridges the S- and V-classes. We introduce a "w” ("weathered") notation to denote, for example, S-type objects that differ only in slope from their spectral neighbors. (We emphasize "w” is a notation only: S- and Sw-type objects are the same class.) High-sloped S, Sa, Sq, Sr, V and Q objects are given a "w" notation. We present eigenvectors and a flow chart for the utilization of this taxonomy by other researchers.

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