What is the Vesta family?
The Vesta family is a cluster of asteroids located in the inner asteroid belt that orbits near its namesake 4 Vesta. Scientists have identified more than 15,000 known members within this cratering family.
Questions about Vesta family
Short answers, pulled from the story.
How was the Vesta family formed?
A giant impact on asteroid 4 Vesta created the family that exists today with debris scattering across the inner asteroid belt. Researchers believe the south polar region served as the likely site of this collision which also explains the origin of HED meteorites found on Earth.
When did Zappala define the core members of the Vesta family?
Zappala conducted a numerical analysis in 1995 to define the core members of the family and establish approximate ranges for proper orbital elements. A later search of the AstDys database in 2005 found 6,051 objects lying within the defined region.
Which asteroids are the largest members of the Vesta family?
4 Vesta dominates the group with an absolute magnitude of 3.25 and a diameter of 525 kilometers while 363 Ausonia follows with a size of 116 kilometers. Other notable large members include 556 Phyllis at 36 kilometers and 145 Robelmonte at 24 kilometers.
What is the difference between V-type and J-type asteroids in the Vesta family?
The standard V-type asteroids make up the majority of the population and reflect light similarly to the surface of 4 Vesta. A smaller subset belongs to the J-type classification which originated from deeper layers beneath the main crust and corresponds to diogenite meteorites found on Earth.