Almahata Sitta and the Rubble Pile Asteroid 2008 TC3

Other

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

Scientific paper

On October 6, 2008, asteroid 2008 TC3 was observed to approach Earth and impact the Nubian Desert of northern Sudan 20 hours later. Meteorites were recovered in the following months, with expeditions held in December 2008 and February/March of 2009 (1).
Here, we report on the collection of additional meteorites from the Almahata Sitta strewn field in December of 2009, following the 2008 TC3 Workshop held at the University of Khartoum December 5-6. The total recovered mass in the University of Khartoum collection now is 10.5 kg, comprised of 600 individual meteorites. Based on the density of fallen meteorites, the total fallen mass is estimated as 39 +/- 6 kg, of which only about 27 percent has been recovered so far (2).
The majority of meteorites are ureilites, some of an anomalous (porous, high in carbon) polymict variety. For the first time, however, macroscopic fragments of other meteorites were recovered as well from the same fall. 20-30 percent in mass of fresh-looking Almahata Sitta meteorites consist of other meteorite types, including H5, EL6, and EH6 meteorites. Those other meteorite types shattered in a similar manner from a 37-km altitude explosion as the predominant ureilites. This makes the 3 to 4 meter sized asteroid a small rubble pile, with accumulated material from different parent bodies.
We will review the current status of analysis of the meteorites by members of the Almahata Sitta consortium, the derived physical properties of the meteorites, and the implications for the physical properties of asteroid 2008 TC3, the ureilite parent body, and the possible source region of ureilites in the asteroid belt.
References:
1. Jenniskens, P., et al. 2009. Nature. 458, 485-488.
2. Shaddad, M. H., et al. 2010. MAPS in press.

No associations

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for scientists and scientific papers. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

Almahata Sitta and the Rubble Pile Asteroid 2008 TC3 does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Almahata Sitta and the Rubble Pile Asteroid 2008 TC3, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Almahata Sitta and the Rubble Pile Asteroid 2008 TC3 will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1230397

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.