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A main belt asteroid break-up 450 ky ago

Publication at Faculty of Mathematics and Physics |
2006

Abstract

Abstract: We selected 264403 asteroids from the Lowell observatory catalog and we used hierarchical clustering method to search for groups. One new and two previously known families were found.The newly identified family is a group of six 1- to 2.5km asteroids, whose orbits are very tightly clustered about ~10km object (1270) Datura.

Backward integration allows us to determine age of this family to 450 +- 50 ky. This young age is fundamental for studying several planetary science proceses.