[Prev][Next][Index][Thread]
(meteorobs) FW: Honeycombed Asteroids- OT??
Somewhat off topic, but interesting considering that the asteroids referred
to are the parents of a percentage of the meteors we see, and certainly the
progentitors of many bolides (AAAUUUggghhhh). Besides, this PSRD page looks
like one worth bookmarking.
Wayne
----------
From: Ron Baalke[SMTP:BAALKE@kelvin.jpl.nasadot gov]
Sent: Wednesday, August 25, 1999 11:09 AM
To: ASTRO-L@uwwvax.uwwdot edu
Subject: Honeycombed Asteroids
Honeycombed Asteroids
Written by G. Jeffrey Taylor
Hawaii Institute of Geophysics and Planetology
August 24, 1999
Asteroids seem to have lower densities than the rocks scientists believe
compose them. This implies that there is quite a bit of empty space inside
the typical asteroid or small moon. Lionel Wilson (Lancaster University,
UK), Klaus Keil (University of Hawaii), and Stanley Love (astronaut
candidate, Johnson Space Center) investigated two possibilities for
producing the high percentage of pore space. In one case they calculated
that if an asteroid were broken apart and then reassembled, the resulting
rubble pile would have a porosity of 20 to 40%, hence a density 20 to 40%
lower than it had to begin with. They also calculated how fractures would
form on bodies that contained water ice that was heated to steam,
concluding
that the fractures would be pervasive and, hence, decrease the density of
the object.
Full story here:
http://www.soest.hawaiidot edu/PSRdiscoveries/Aug99/asteroidDensity.html
PSRD Home Page:
http://www.soest.hawaiidot edu/PSRdiscoveries/index.html
To UNSUBSCRIBE from the 'meteorobs' email list, use the Web form at:
http://www.tiacdot net/users/lewkaren/meteorobs/subscribe.html