Article
In search of the source of asteroid (101955) Bennu: Applications of the stochastic YORP model
Icarus
(2015)
Abstract
Asteroid (101955) Bennu, the target of NASA’s OSIRIS-REx sample return mission, is a D 0:5 km diameter low albedo near-Earth object. It has a spectral signature consistent with primitive carbonaceous chondrites, and an orbit similar to that of the Earth. A plausible evolution scenario for Bennu is that it migrated inward across the inner main belt from a low albedo family by Yarkovsky thermal forces over many hundreds of Myr. Eventually, it entered a resonance that took it into the terrestrial planet region, where a combination of planetary encounters and resonances took it to its current orbit over a few Myr to tens of Myr. When it departed the main belt, Bennu probably had an eccentricity 0:1 < e < 0:2 and an inclination 1 < i < 6. Several low albedo families have the appropriate dynamical, color, albedo, and broad spectral characteristics to produce Bennu: Clarissa, Erigone, Eulalia, New Polana, and Sulamitis.
Keywords
- asteroids,
- asteroid dynamics,
- near-Earth objects,
- celestial mechanics
Disciplines
Publication Date
February, 2015
DOI
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2014.09.046
Citation Information
W. F. Bottke, D. Vokrouhlicky, K. J. Walsh, M. Delbo, et al.. "In search of the source of asteroid (101955) Bennu: Applications of the stochastic YORP model" Icarus Vol. 247 (2015) p. 191 - 217 Available at: http://works.bepress.com/harold-connolly/3/