Near-Earth Objects: A Compositional and Exploration Assessment

Details Near-Earth Objects: A Compositional and Exploration Assessment Near-Earth Objects: A Compositional and Exploration Assessment

Feb 2000

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2000noao.prop...46b&link_type=abstract

NOAO Proposal ID #2000A-0046

Computer Science

Scientific paper

Compositional characterization of the smallest observable solar system bodies, the near-Earth objects (NEOs), is required to resolve the fundamental question: ``What are the relationships between asteroids, comets, and meteorites?'' Visible spectra obtained through the proposed observations will readily identify solar-like (neutrally colored) NEOs that are candidates for extinct comet nuclei. While visible spectrum measurements (this program) are sufficient to establish viable meteorite associations, highly conclusive matches will be made through a mutually complementary (on-going) long-term program at the IRTF. This four semester (16 night) NOAO program will achieve compositional characterization for a sample of about 100 NEOs and will unveil asteroid-comet-meteorite relationships through a statistical analysis of the derived compositional distribution, through quantitative comparisons with the compositional distributions of main-belt asteroids and meteorites, and through a correlation analysis between NEO spectral and known short-period comet dynamical properties to identify (or constrain) the population of extinct comet nuclei. Further, this program will most explicitly target the most accessible NEOs to provide an exploration assessment for future sample return missions.

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