V-type asteroid
The spectra of the V-type asteroids, or vestoids, are similar to that of 4 Vesta, by far the largest asteroid in this class (hence the name). Approximately 6% of main-belt asteroids are vestoids.[citation needed]
A large proportion have orbital elements similar to those of 4 Vesta, either close enough to be part of the Vesta family, or having similar eccentricities and inclinations but with a semi-major axis lying between about 2.18 AU and the 3:1 Kirkwood gap at 2.50 AU. This suggests that most or all of them originated as fragments of Vesta's crust, possibly blasted out by a single very large impact at some point in its history. The enormous southern-hemisphere crater on Vesta, Rheasilvia, is the prime candidate for the impact site.[1]
The V-type asteroids are moderately bright, and rather similar to the more common S-type, which are also made up of stony irons and ordinary chondrites. This rather rare type of asteroid contains more pyroxene than the S-type.
The electromagnetic spectrum has a very strong absorption feature longward of 0.75 μm, another feature around 1 μm and is very red shortwards of 0.7 µm. The visible wavelength spectrum of the V-type asteroids (including 4 Vesta itself) is similar to the spectra of basaltic achondrite HED meteorites.
A J-type has been suggested for asteroids having a particularly strong 1 μm absorption band similar to diogenite meteorites,[2] likely being derived from deeper parts of the crust of 4 Vesta.
Distribution
The vast majority of V-type asteroids are members of the Vesta family along with Vesta itself. There are some Mars-crossers such as 9969 Braille, and some Near-Earth objects like 3908 Nyx.
There is also a scattered group of objects in the general vicinity of the Vesta family but not part of it. These include:[3]
- 809 Lundia — Orbits within the Flora family region
- 956 Elisa
- 1459 Magnya — Orbits in the outer asteroid belt, too far from Vesta to be genetically related.[citation needed] May be the remains of a different ancient differentiated body that was shattered long ago.
- 2113 Ehrdni
- 2442 Corbett
- 2566 Kirghizia
- 2579 Spartacus — Contains a significant portion of olivine, which may indicate origin deeper within Vesta than other V-types.
- 2640 Hallstrom
- 2653 Principia
- 2704 Julian Loewe
- 2763 Jeans
- 2795 Lepage
- 2851 Harbin
- 2912 Lapalma
- 3849 Incidentia
- 3850 Peltier — Orbits within the Flora family region
- 3869 Norton
- 4188 Kitezh
- 4278 Harvey — Member of Baptistina family.
- 4434 Nikulin
- 4796 Lewis
- 4977 Rauthgundis
- 5379 Abehiroshi
