Mechanical properties of rubble pile asteroids (Dimorphos, Itokawa, Ryugu, and Bennu) through surface boulder morphological analysis

Colas Q. Robin (), Alexia Duchene, Naomi Murdoch, Jean-Baptiste Vincent, Alice Lucchetti, Maurizio Pajola, Carolyn M. Ernst, R. Terik Daly, Olivier S. Barnouin, Sabina D. Raducan, Patrick Michel, Masatochi Hirabayashi, Alexander Stott, Gabriela Cuervo, Erica R. Jawin, Josep M. Trigo-Rodriguez, Laura M. Parro, Cecily Sunday, Damien Vivet, David Mimoun, Andrew S. Rivkin and Nancy L. Chabot
Additional contact information
Colas Q. Robin: Université de Toulouse
Alexia Duchene: Université de Toulouse
Naomi Murdoch: Université de Toulouse
Jean-Baptiste Vincent: DLR Institute of Planetary Research
Alice Lucchetti: INAF-Astronomical Observatory of Padova
Maurizio Pajola: INAF-Astronomical Observatory of Padova
Carolyn M. Ernst: Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
R. Terik Daly: Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
Olivier S. Barnouin: Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
Sabina D. Raducan: University of Bern
Patrick Michel: Lagrange Laboratory
Masatochi Hirabayashi: Georgia Institute of Technology
Alexander Stott: Université de Toulouse
Gabriela Cuervo: Université de Toulouse
Erica R. Jawin: Smithonian National Air and Space Museum
Josep M. Trigo-Rodriguez: Campus UAB, Carrer Can Magrans s/n
Laura M. Parro: Alicante University
Cecily Sunday: Université de Toulouse
Damien Vivet: Université de Toulouse
David Mimoun: Université de Toulouse
Andrew S. Rivkin: Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
Nancy L. Chabot: Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory

Nature Communications, 2024, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract Planetary defense efforts rely on estimates of the mechanical properties of asteroids, which are difficult to constrain accurately from Earth. The mechanical properties of asteroid material are also important in the interpretation of the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) impact. Here we perform a detailed morphological analysis of the surface boulders on Dimorphos using images, the primary data set available from the DART mission. We estimate the bulk angle of internal friction of the boulders to be 32.7 ± 2. 5° from our measurements of the roundness of the 34 best-resolved boulders ranging in size from 1.67–6.64 m. The elongated nature of the boulders around the DART impact site implies that they were likely formed through impact processing. Finally, we find striking similarities in the morphology of the boulders on Dimorphos with those on other rubble pile asteroids (Itokawa, Ryugu and Bennu). This leads to very similar internal friction angles across the four bodies and suggests that a common formation mechanism has shaped the boulders. Our results provide key inputs for understanding the DART impact and for improving our knowledge about the physical properties, the formation and the evolution of both near-Earth rubble-pile and binary asteroids.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50147-w

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