Potentially hazardous Asteroid 2007 LE: Compositional link to the black chondrite Rose City and Asteroid (6) Hebe

Abstract

The research is an integrated effort beginning with telescopic observations and extending through detailed mineralogical characterizations to provide constraints on the albedo, diameter, composition, and meteorite affinity of near-Earth object-potentially hazardous asteroid (NEO-PHA 2007 LE). Results of the analysis indicate a diameter of 0.56kilometers (km) and an albedo of 0.08. 2007 LE exhibits a 1-μm absorption feature without a discernible Band II feature. Compositional analysis of 2007 LE reveal Fs17 and Fa19 values, which are consistent with the Fa and Fs values for the H-type ordinary chondrites (Fs14.5–18 and Fa16–20) and of Asteroid (6) Hebe (Fs17 and Fa15). Spectroscopically, 2007 LE does not appear like the average H-chondrite spectra, exhibiting a reddened spectrum and subdued absorption feature. Further investigation of the meteorite classes yielded a black chondrite, Rose City, which is both similar in mineralogy and spectrally to PHA 2007 LE. Dynamical analysis could not directly link the fall of the Rose City meteorite to 2007 LE. As it stands, 2007 LE and Rose City have a compositional link, and both could come from the same parent body/possible family, one known source of the H chondrites is (6) Hebe.