Evidence for widespread hydrated minerals on asteroid (101955) Bennu

V. Hamilton; A. Simon; P. Christensen; D. Reuter; B. Clark; M. A. Barucci; N. Bowles; W. Boynton; J. Brucato; E. Cloutis; H. Connolly; K. Donaldson Hanna; J. Emery; H. Enos; S. Fornasier; C. Haberle; R. Hanna; E. Howell; H. Kaplan; L. Keller; C. Lantz; J.-Y. Li; L. Lim; T. Mccoy; F. Merlin; M. Nolan; A. Praet; B. Rozitis; S. Sandford; D. Schrader; C. Thomas; X.-D. Zou; D. Lauretta; Marc Bernacki; Daniel Pino Muñoz; OSIRIS-REx Team; Eiman M. Ibrahim

doi:10.1038/s41550-019-0722-2

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Evidence for widespread hydrated minerals on asteroid (101955) Bennu

Journal article

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Evidence for widespread hydrated minerals on asteroid (101955) Bennu

V. Hamilton, A. Simon, P. Christensen, D. Reuter, B. Clark, M. A. Barucci, N. Bowles, W. Boynton, J. Brucato, E. Cloutis, …

Nature Astronomy, Vol.3(3), pp.332–340-340

01/04/2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41550-019-0722-2

PMCID: PMC6662227

PMID: 31360777

Abstract

Astrophysics

Engineering Sciences

Materials

Physics

Early spectral data from the Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security-Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) mission reveal evidence for abundant hydrated minerals on the surface of near-Earth asteroid (101955) Bennu in the form of a near-infrared absorption near 2.7 µm and thermal infrared spectral features that are most similar to those of aqueously altered CM-type carbonaceous chondrites. We observe these spectral features across the surface of Bennu, and there is no evidence of substantial rotational variability at the spatial scales of tens to hundreds of metres observed to date. In the visible and near-infrared (0.4 to 2.4 µm) Bennu’s spectrum appears featureless and with a blue (negative) slope, confirming previous ground-based observations. Bennu may represent a class of objects that could have brought volatiles and organic chemistry to Earth.

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Title: Evidence for widespread hydrated minerals on asteroid (101955) Bennu
Creators - without role: V. Hamilton - Southwest Research Institute
A. Simon
P. Christensen - ASU School of Earth and Space Exploration
D. Reuter - Goddard Space Flight Center
B. Clark - Ithaca College
M. A. Barucci - Laboratoire d'études spatiales et d'instrumentation en astrophysique
N. Bowles - Department of Atmospheric, Oceanic and Planetary Physics [Oxford]
W. Boynton - Lunar and Planetary Laboratory [Tucson]
J. Brucato - INAF - Osservatorio Astrofisico di Arcetri
E. Cloutis - Department of Geography [Winnipeg]
H. Connolly - Rowan University
K. Donaldson Hanna - Department of Atmospheric, Oceanic and Planetary Physics [Oxford]
J. Emery - Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences [Knoxville]
H. Enos - Lunar and Planetary Laboratory [Tucson]
S. Fornasier - Laboratoire d'études spatiales et d'instrumentation en astrophysique
C. Haberle - ASU School of Earth and Space Exploration
R. Hanna - Institut de Recherches sur les lois Fondamentales de l'Univers
E. Howell - Lunar and Planetary Laboratory [Tucson]
H. Kaplan - Southwest Research Institute
L. Keller - Swiss Light Source
C. Lantz - Institut d'Astrophysique Spatiale
J.-Y. Li - Planetary Science Institute
L. Lim - Goddard Space Flight Center
T. Mccoy - Smithsonian Institution
F. Merlin - Laboratoire d'études spatiales et d'instrumentation en astrophysique
M. Nolan - Lunar and Planetary Laboratory [Tucson]
A. Praet - Laboratoire d'études spatiales et d'instrumentation en astrophysique
B. Rozitis - The Open University
S. Sandford - Ames Research Center
D. Schrader - Center for Meteorite Studies [Tempe]
C. Thomas - Northern Arizona University
X.-D. Zou - Planetary Science Institute
D. Lauretta - Lunar and Planetary Laboratory [Tucson]
Marc Bernacki - Centre de Mise en Forme des Matériaux
Daniel Pino Muñoz - Centre de Mise en Forme des Matériaux
OSIRIS-REx Team
Eiman M. Ibrahim - King Saud University
Publication Details: Nature Astronomy, Vol.3(3), pp.332–340-340
Publisher: Nature Publishing Group
Identifiers: 9949353708331
Academic Unit: King Saud University
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article