^1,2D. A. Nedelcu, ^2,1M. Birlan, ^1,2M. Popescu, ¹O. Bădescu and ¹D. Pricopi

¹ Astronomical Institute of the Romanian Academy, 5 Cuţitul de Argint, 040557 Bucharest, Romania
e-mail: nedelcu@aira.astro.ro; mpopescu@aira.astro.ro; octavian@aira.astro.ro; dpricopi@aira.astro.ro
² Institut de Mécanique Céleste et de Calcul des Éphémérides (IMCCE), Observatoire de Paris, 77 avenue Denfert-Rochereau, 75014 Paris Cedex, France
e-mail: mirel.birlan@imcce.fr

Aims. In this paper we report near-infrared spectroscopic observations of one of the largest potentially hazardous asteroids, (214869) 2007 PA8. Mineralogical analysis of this object was followed by the investigation of the dynamical delivery mechanism from its probable source region, based on long-term numerical integrations.

Methods. The spectrum of (214869) 2007 PA8 was analysed using the positions of 1 μm and 2 μm bands and by curve-matching with RELAB meteorites spectra. Its dynamical evolution was investigated by means of a 200 000-year numerical integration in the past of 1275 clones followed to the source region.

Results. (214869) 2007 PA8 has a very young surface with a composition more akin to H chondrites than to any other type of ordinary chondrite. It arrived from the outer Main Belt in the near-Earth space via the 5:2 mean motion resonance with Jupiter by eccentricity pumping. Identification of its source region far from (6) Hebe raises the possibility of the existence of a second parent body of the H chondrites that has a radically different post-accretion history. Future spectroscopic surveys in the 5:2 resonance region will most likely discover other asteroids with an H chondrite composition.

Reference
Nedelcu DA, Birlan M, Popescu M, Bădescu O, Pricopi D. (2014) Evidence for a source of H chondrites in the outer main asteroid belt. Astrophysics&Astronomy Letters 567, L7
Link to Article [http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201423949]

Reproduced with permission © ESO