Binary asteroids in the near-earth object population

J. L. Margot; M. C. Nolan; L. A.M. Benner; S. J. Ostro; R. F. Jurgens; J. D. Giorgini; M. A. Slade; D. B. Campbell

doi:10.1126/science.1072094

Binary asteroids in the near-earth object population

J. L. Margot, M. C. Nolan, L. A.M. Benner, S. J. Ostro, R. F. Jurgens, J. D. Giorgini, M. A. Slade, D. B. Campbell

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Abstract

Radar images of near-Earth asteroid 2000 DP107 show that it is composed of an ∼800-meter-diameter primary and an ∼-300-meter-diameter secondary revolving around their common center of mass. The orbital period of 1.755 ± 0.007 days and semimajor axis of 2620 ± 160 meters constrain the total mass of the system to 4.6 ± 0.5 X 10¹¹ kilograms and the bulk density of the primary to 1.7 ± 1.1 grams per cubic centimeter. This system and other binary near-Earth asteroids have spheroidal primaries spinning near the breakup point for strengthless bodies, suggesting that the binaries formed by spin-up and fission, probably as a result of tidal disruption during close planetary encounters. About 16% of near-Earth asteroids larger than 200 meters in diameter may be binary systems.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	1445-1448
Number of pages	4
Journal	Science
Volume	296
Issue number	5572
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1072094
State	Published - May 24 2002
Externally published	Yes

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title = "Binary asteroids in the near-earth object population",

abstract = "Radar images of near-Earth asteroid 2000 DP107 show that it is composed of an ∼800-meter-diameter primary and an ∼-300-meter-diameter secondary revolving around their common center of mass. The orbital period of 1.755 ± 0.007 days and semimajor axis of 2620 ± 160 meters constrain the total mass of the system to 4.6 ± 0.5 X 1011 kilograms and the bulk density of the primary to 1.7 ± 1.1 grams per cubic centimeter. This system and other binary near-Earth asteroids have spheroidal primaries spinning near the breakup point for strengthless bodies, suggesting that the binaries formed by spin-up and fission, probably as a result of tidal disruption during close planetary encounters. About 16% of near-Earth asteroids larger than 200 meters in diameter may be binary systems.",

author = "Margot, {J. L.} and Nolan, {M. C.} and Benner, {L. A.M.} and Ostro, {S. J.} and Jurgens, {R. F.} and Giorgini, {J. D.} and Slade, {M. A.} and Campbell, {D. B.}",

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T1 - Binary asteroids in the near-earth object population

AU - Margot, J. L.

AU - Nolan, M. C.

AU - Benner, L. A.M.

AU - Ostro, S. J.

AU - Jurgens, R. F.

AU - Giorgini, J. D.

AU - Slade, M. A.

AU - Campbell, D. B.

PY - 2002/5/24

Y1 - 2002/5/24

N2 - Radar images of near-Earth asteroid 2000 DP107 show that it is composed of an ∼800-meter-diameter primary and an ∼-300-meter-diameter secondary revolving around their common center of mass. The orbital period of 1.755 ± 0.007 days and semimajor axis of 2620 ± 160 meters constrain the total mass of the system to 4.6 ± 0.5 X 1011 kilograms and the bulk density of the primary to 1.7 ± 1.1 grams per cubic centimeter. This system and other binary near-Earth asteroids have spheroidal primaries spinning near the breakup point for strengthless bodies, suggesting that the binaries formed by spin-up and fission, probably as a result of tidal disruption during close planetary encounters. About 16% of near-Earth asteroids larger than 200 meters in diameter may be binary systems.

AB - Radar images of near-Earth asteroid 2000 DP107 show that it is composed of an ∼800-meter-diameter primary and an ∼-300-meter-diameter secondary revolving around their common center of mass. The orbital period of 1.755 ± 0.007 days and semimajor axis of 2620 ± 160 meters constrain the total mass of the system to 4.6 ± 0.5 X 1011 kilograms and the bulk density of the primary to 1.7 ± 1.1 grams per cubic centimeter. This system and other binary near-Earth asteroids have spheroidal primaries spinning near the breakup point for strengthless bodies, suggesting that the binaries formed by spin-up and fission, probably as a result of tidal disruption during close planetary encounters. About 16% of near-Earth asteroids larger than 200 meters in diameter may be binary systems.

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Binary asteroids in the near-earth object population

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