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
Tags
Asteroid Phaethon
Geminid meteor shower
hydration evidence
volatile sublimation
phyllosilicate
Pallas family
anhydrous composition
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