Revising the age for the baptistina asteroid family using wise/neowise data

Joseph R. Masiero, A. K. Mainzer, T. Grav, J. M. Bauer, R. Jedicke

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

46 Scopus citations

Abstract

We have used numerical routines to model the evolution of a simulated Baptistina family to constrain its age in light of new measurements of the diameters and albedos of family members from the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer. We also investigate the effect of varying the assumed physical and orbital parameters on the best-fitting age. We find that the physically allowed range of assumed values for the density and thermal conductivity induces a large uncertainty in the rate of evolution. When realistic uncertainties in the family members' physical parameters are taken into account, we find that the best-fitting age can fall anywhere in the range of 140-320 Myr. Without more information on the physical properties of the family members, it is difficult to place a more firm constraint on Baptistina's age.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number14
JournalAstrophysical Journal
Volume759
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 1 2012
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • asteroids: general
  • minor planets

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Space and Planetary Science

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