The recovery of asteroid 2008 TC3

Physics

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

16

Scientific paper

On October 7, 2008, asteroid 2008 TC3 impacted Earth and fragmented at 37 km altitude above the Nubian Desert in northern Sudan. The area surrounding the asteroid's approach path was searched, resulting in the first recovery of meteorites from an asteroid observed in space. This was also the first recovery of remains from a fragile "cometary" PE = IIIa/b type fireball. In subsequent searches, over 600 mostly small 0.2-379 g meteorites (named "Almahata Sitta") with a total mass 10.7 kg were recovered from a 30 × 7 km area. Meteorites fell along the track at 1.3 kg km-1, nearly independent of mass between 1 and 400 g, with a total fallen mass of 39 ± 6 kg. The strewn field was shifted nearly 1.8 km south from the calculated approach path. The influence of winds on the distribution of the meteorites, and on the motion of the dust train, is investigated. The majority of meteorites are ureilites with densities around 2.8 g cm-3, some of an anomalous (porous, high in carbon) polymict ureilite variety with densities as low as 1.5 g cm-3. In addition, an estimated 20-30% (in mass) of recovered meteorites were ordinary, enstatite, and carbonaceous chondrites. Their fresh look and matching distribution of fragments in the strewn field imply that they were part of 2008 TC3. For that reason, they are all referred to as "Almahata Sitta." No ureilite meteorites were found that still held foreign clasts, suggesting that the asteroid's clasts were only loosely bound.

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

The recovery of 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 The recovery of asteroid 2008 TC3, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and The recovery of asteroid 2008 TC3 will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1235069

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