Maria's Family: Physical Structure and Possible Implications for the Origin of Giant NEAs

Author： Zappala V. Cellino A. Di Martino M. Migliorini F. Paolicchi P.

ISSN： 0019-1035

Source： Icarus, Vol.129, Iss.1, 1997-09, pp. : 1-20

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Abstract

An extensive analysis of the Maria family is presented. A reconstruction of the original ejection velocity field of the fragments suggests that a substantial number of relatively large fragments may have been injected into the neighboring 3/1 mean motion resonance with Jupiter. This also agrees with an analysis of the size distribution of the family, suggesting that about 10 objects in the size range 15-30 km have probably been lost. As a consequence, Maria's family can be seen as one of the most promising candidates for the source of the "giant" near-Earth asteroids 433 Eros and 1036 Ganymed. This is also supported by an extensive spectroscopic survey of the family members in the spectral range 5000-10000 A. The spectra obtained are very similar and are consistent with the known spectra of Eros and Ganymed.