Internal rubble properties of asteroid (101955) Bennu

P. Tricarico; D. J. Scheeres; A. S. French; J. W. McMahon; D. N. Brack; J. M. Leonard; P. Antreasian; S. R. Chesley; D. Farnocchia; Y. Takahashi; E. M. Mazarico; D. Rowlands; D. Highsmith; K. Getzandanner; M. Moreau; C. L. Johnson; L. Philpott; E. B. Bierhaus; K. J. Walsh; O. S. Barnouin; E. E. Palmer; J. R. Weirich; R. W. Gaskell; M. G. Daly; J. A. Seabrook; M. C. Nolan; D. S. Lauretta

doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2021.114665

Internal rubble properties of asteroid (101955) Bennu

P. Tricarico, D. J. Scheeres, A. S. French, J. W. McMahon, D. N. Brack, J. M. Leonard, P. Antreasian, S. R. Chesley, D. Farnocchia, Y. Takahashi, E. M. Mazarico, D. Rowlands, D. Highsmith, K. Getzandanner, M. Moreau, C. L. Johnson, L. Philpott, E. B. Bierhaus, K. J. Walsh, O. S. BarnouinE. E. Palmer, J. R. Weirich, R. W. Gaskell, M. G. Daly, J. A. Seabrook, M. C. Nolan, D. S. Lauretta

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

20 Scopus citations

Abstract

Exploration of asteroid (101955) Bennu by the OSIRIS-REx mission has provided an in-depth look at this rubble-pile near-Earth asteroid. In particular, the measured gravity field and the detailed shape model of Bennu indicate significant heterogeneities in its interior structure, compatible with a lower density at its center. Here we combine gravity inversion methods with a statistical rubble-pile model to determine the density and size-frequency distribution (SFD) index of the rubble that constitutes Bennu. The best-fitting models indicate that the SFD of the interior is consistent with that observed on the surface, with a cumulative SFD index of approximately −2.9. The rubble bulk density is approximately 1.35 g/cm³, corresponding to a 12% macro-porosity. We find the largest rubble particle to be approximately 145 m, whereas the largest void is approximately 10 m.

Original language	English (US)
Article number	114665
Journal	Icarus
Volume	370
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2021.114665
State	Published - Dec 2021

Keywords

Bennu
Interior structure of asteroids
Meteorites
Near-Earth asteroids
OSIRIS-REx

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

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10.1016/j.icarus.2021.114665

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Tricarico, P., Scheeres, D. J., French, A. S., McMahon, J. W., Brack, D. N., Leonard, J. M., Antreasian, P., Chesley, S. R., Farnocchia, D., Takahashi, Y., Mazarico, E. M., Rowlands, D., Highsmith, D., Getzandanner, K., Moreau, M., Johnson, C. L., Philpott, L., Bierhaus, E. B., Walsh, K. J., ... Lauretta, D. S. (2021). Internal rubble properties of asteroid (101955) Bennu. Icarus, 370, Article 114665. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2021.114665

Tricarico, P, Scheeres, DJ, French, AS, McMahon, JW, Brack, DN, Leonard, JM, Antreasian, P, Chesley, SR, Farnocchia, D, Takahashi, Y, Mazarico, EM, Rowlands, D, Highsmith, D, Getzandanner, K, Moreau, M, Johnson, CL, Philpott, L, Bierhaus, EB, Walsh, KJ, Barnouin, OS, Palmer, EE, Weirich, JR, Gaskell, RW, Daly, MG, Seabrook, JA, Nolan, MC & Lauretta, DS 2021, 'Internal rubble properties of asteroid (101955) Bennu', Icarus, vol. 370, 114665. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2021.114665

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title = "Internal rubble properties of asteroid (101955) Bennu",

abstract = "Exploration of asteroid (101955) Bennu by the OSIRIS-REx mission has provided an in-depth look at this rubble-pile near-Earth asteroid. In particular, the measured gravity field and the detailed shape model of Bennu indicate significant heterogeneities in its interior structure, compatible with a lower density at its center. Here we combine gravity inversion methods with a statistical rubble-pile model to determine the density and size-frequency distribution (SFD) index of the rubble that constitutes Bennu. The best-fitting models indicate that the SFD of the interior is consistent with that observed on the surface, with a cumulative SFD index of approximately −2.9. The rubble bulk density is approximately 1.35 g/cm3, corresponding to a 12% macro-porosity. We find the largest rubble particle to be approximately 145 m, whereas the largest void is approximately 10 m.",

keywords = "Bennu, Interior structure of asteroids, Meteorites, Near-Earth asteroids, OSIRIS-REx",

author = "P. Tricarico and Scheeres, {D. J.} and French, {A. S.} and McMahon, {J. W.} and Brack, {D. N.} and Leonard, {J. M.} and P. Antreasian and Chesley, {S. R.} and D. Farnocchia and Y. Takahashi and Mazarico, {E. M.} and D. Rowlands and D. Highsmith and K. Getzandanner and M. Moreau and Johnson, {C. L.} and L. Philpott and Bierhaus, {E. B.} and Walsh, {K. J.} and Barnouin, {O. S.} and Palmer, {E. E.} and Weirich, {J. R.} and Gaskell, {R. W.} and Daly, {M. G.} and Seabrook, {J. A.} and Nolan, {M. C.} and Lauretta, {D. S.}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021 Elsevier Inc.",

year = "2021",

month = dec,

doi = "10.1016/j.icarus.2021.114665",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "370",

journal = "Icarus",

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T1 - Internal rubble properties of asteroid (101955) Bennu

AU - Tricarico, P.

AU - Scheeres, D. J.

AU - French, A. S.

AU - McMahon, J. W.

AU - Brack, D. N.

AU - Leonard, J. M.

AU - Antreasian, P.

AU - Chesley, S. R.

AU - Farnocchia, D.

AU - Takahashi, Y.

AU - Mazarico, E. M.

AU - Rowlands, D.

AU - Highsmith, D.

AU - Getzandanner, K.

AU - Moreau, M.

AU - Johnson, C. L.

AU - Philpott, L.

AU - Bierhaus, E. B.

AU - Walsh, K. J.

AU - Barnouin, O. S.

AU - Palmer, E. E.

AU - Weirich, J. R.

AU - Gaskell, R. W.

AU - Daly, M. G.

AU - Seabrook, J. A.

AU - Nolan, M. C.

AU - Lauretta, D. S.

PY - 2021/12

Y1 - 2021/12

N2 - Exploration of asteroid (101955) Bennu by the OSIRIS-REx mission has provided an in-depth look at this rubble-pile near-Earth asteroid. In particular, the measured gravity field and the detailed shape model of Bennu indicate significant heterogeneities in its interior structure, compatible with a lower density at its center. Here we combine gravity inversion methods with a statistical rubble-pile model to determine the density and size-frequency distribution (SFD) index of the rubble that constitutes Bennu. The best-fitting models indicate that the SFD of the interior is consistent with that observed on the surface, with a cumulative SFD index of approximately −2.9. The rubble bulk density is approximately 1.35 g/cm3, corresponding to a 12% macro-porosity. We find the largest rubble particle to be approximately 145 m, whereas the largest void is approximately 10 m.

AB - Exploration of asteroid (101955) Bennu by the OSIRIS-REx mission has provided an in-depth look at this rubble-pile near-Earth asteroid. In particular, the measured gravity field and the detailed shape model of Bennu indicate significant heterogeneities in its interior structure, compatible with a lower density at its center. Here we combine gravity inversion methods with a statistical rubble-pile model to determine the density and size-frequency distribution (SFD) index of the rubble that constitutes Bennu. The best-fitting models indicate that the SFD of the interior is consistent with that observed on the surface, with a cumulative SFD index of approximately −2.9. The rubble bulk density is approximately 1.35 g/cm3, corresponding to a 12% macro-porosity. We find the largest rubble particle to be approximately 145 m, whereas the largest void is approximately 10 m.

KW - Bennu

KW - Interior structure of asteroids

KW - Meteorites

KW - Near-Earth asteroids

KW - OSIRIS-REx

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DO - 10.1016/j.icarus.2021.114665

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AN - SCOPUS:85114423584

SN - 0019-1035

VL - 370

JO - Icarus

JF - Icarus

M1 - 114665

ER -

Internal rubble properties of asteroid (101955) Bennu

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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