Rotational breakup as the origin of small binary asteroids

Kevin J. Walsh (), Derek C. Richardson and Patrick Michel
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Kevin J. Walsh: UMR 6202 Cassiopée, University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis, CNRS, Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur, BP 4229, 06304 Nice Cedex 4, France
Derek C. Richardson: University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742-2421, USA
Patrick Michel: UMR 6202 Cassiopée, University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis, CNRS, Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur, BP 4229, 06304 Nice Cedex 4, France

Nature, 2008, vol. 454, issue 7201, 188-191

Abstract: Binary asteroids: Satellites formed from the rubble Many asteroids and trans-neptunian objects have satellites: the tally stands at over 150 on http://tinyurl.com/dweqf . The smallest of these binary systems are main-belt and near-Earth asteroids, but the environments of these two types of object are very different, making it difficult to work out a common mechanism to explain their formation. Now Walsh et al. present a model that fits the bill. Properties of the observed main-belt and near-Earth asteroids with satellites are matched by simulations involving the slow spinup of a 'rubble pile' asteroid via the thermal YORP effect (where radiation from an irregular body exerts a net force on that body). The mass shed from the equator of a spinning body accretes into a satellite if the material consists of particles undergoing energy-dissipating collisions.

Date: 2008
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DOI: 10.1038/nature07078

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