Binary Asteroids in the Near-Earth Object Population

• DOI: 10.1126/science.1072094
• Publication Date: 2002-07-27T09:54:32Z
• Authors: J. L. Margot; M. C. Nolan; L. A. M. Benner; S. J. Ostro; R. F. Jurgens; J. D. Giorgini; M. A. Slade; D. B. Campbell
• Keywords: Near-Earth object

Radar images of near-Earth asteroid 2000 DP107 show that it is composed an ∼800-meter-diameter primary and ∼300-meter-diameter secondary revolving around their common center mass. The orbital period 1.755 ± 0.007 days semimajor axis 2620 160 meters constrain the total mass system to 4.6 0.5 × 10 11 kilograms bulk density 1.7 1.1 grams per cubic centimeter. This other binary asteroids have spheroidal primaries spinning near breakup point for strengthless bodies, suggesting binaries formed by spin-up fission, probably as a result tidal disruption during close planetary encounters. About 16% larger than 200 in diameter may be systems.