Classifications of Asteroids
Ida(35 x 15 x 13 miles)
We classify asteroids into three types
1998CopyrightDreamWeaverStudios All Rights Reserved No part of this website may be reproduced in any way, without express written permission of the website owner. All materials are owned by and created by DreamWeaver Studios.C - Type - which includes more than 75% of known asteroids, they are extremely dark in color(albedo 0.03*), similar to carbonaceous chondrite meteorites. They sort of look like charcoal to put it best.
S - Type - 17 % of known asteroids, (albedo .10 - .22*) Metallic nickel - iron mixed with iron and magnesium silicate. They resemble a dirty nickel in color roughly.
M - Type - most of the rest of known asteroids, very bright, (albedo .10 - .18), pure nickel and iron. Resembles a large metallic boulder.
*Albedo - the amount of light reflected by an object. A white surface perfectly reflecting the light would have a 1.0 albedo and a black surface perfectly absorbing the light would have a 0.0 albedo.
Scientist have discovered these classifications by studying meteors that have made it through Earth's atmosphere and impacted the planet, then they became meteorites. The meteors and meteorites must have been parts of asteroids before impacting with the Earth. The elements found in these meteorites give us the general composition or make up of the asteroids. So, the scientists tell us.
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