Space Sciences

Near-infrared observations of active asteroid (3200) Phaethon reveal no evidence for hydration

D. Takir, T. Kareta, et al.

Asteroid (3200) Phaethon, noted for its role in the Geminid meteor shower, shows intriguing activity close to the Sun. Despite extensive analysis by Driss Takir and colleagues, our findings reveal no signs of hydration, challenging existing theories on its behavior. This study opens new avenues in understanding its origins and potential links to the Pallas family.

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Abstract

Asteroid (3200) Phaethon, the parent body of the Geminid meteor shower, exhibits activity despite its proximity to the Sun. This study presents rotationally resolved spectroscopic observations of Phaethon beyond 2.5 µm, searching for hydration evidence. The results show no significant 3 µm hydrated mineral absorption, suggesting Phaethon's activity isn't caused by volatile sublimation or phyllosilicate devolatilization. The findings support a possible connection to the Pallas family, either through original anhydrous composition or dehydration after formation.

Publisher

Nature Communications

Published On

Apr 28, 2020

Authors

Driss Takir, Theodore Kareta, Joshua P. Emery, Josef Hanuš, Vishnu Reddy, Ellen S. Howell, Andrew S. Rivkin, Tomoko Arai

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