Near-Earth objects as principal impactors of the Earth: Physical properties and sources of origin

Abstract

AbstractNear-Earth objects (NEOs) are objects of a special interest from the point of view not only of cosmogonic problems of the Solar system, but of the applied problems as well (the problem of asteroid hazard, NEOs as the potential sources of raw materials, etc.). They are much smaller in sizes than main-belt asteroids (MBAs), very irregular in shape and covered with a great number of craters of different sizes. Most of NEOs are covered by regolith of low thermal inertia and different thickness. Objects with complex non-principal axis rotation (tumbling bodies) and with super-fast rotational periods have been detected among them. The new data, based on photometric and radar observations, evidence that about 15-20 %; of NEOs could be binary systems. Most of the classified NEOs fragments of differentiated assemblages of S-and Q-types. Analysis of physical properties of NEOs clearly indicates that the asteroid main-belt is the principal source of their origin and only about 10 % of NEOs have a cometary origin.