¹B.G. Rider-Stokes, ¹F.A. Davies, ²T.H. Burbine, ³E. MacLennan, ¹R.C. Greenwood, ¹S.L. Jackson, ¹M. Anand, ⁴D. Sheikh, ¹M.M. Grady
Icarus (in Press) Open Access Link to Article [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2026.116965]
¹School of Physical Sciences, The Open University, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA, UK.
²Department of Physics & Astronomy, Mount Holyoke College; 50 College Street, South Hadley, MA 01075, USA
³Department of Physics, University of Helsinki, Finland
⁴Department of Geology, Cascadia Meteorite Laboratory, Portland State University, USA
Copyright Elsevier

Brachinite meteorites are typically linked to the olivine-rich A-type asteroids. In this study, however, they appear to exhibit unexpected spectral diversity. Spectroscopic analysis of seven meteorites from the brachinite clan reveals two distinct populations in band parameters, overlapping with both the A-type and S-complex asteroids. This dual association shows that a single meteorite group can originate from multiple asteroid taxonomies. Notably, one S-complex-like specimen, Northwest Africa (NWA) 14,635, displays band parameters similar to those of asteroid (65803) Didymos, the target of the European Space Agency’s (ESA) ongoing Hera mission. These results underscore the value of spectroscopic characterization of poorly understood meteorite groups and identifying potential analogs that are highly relevant for current and future mission planning.