Asteroids

Question 1

asteroid

Answer 1

small (<1000 km) rocky or metal-rich planetary body orbiting the sun

Question 2

comet

Answer 2

small (<10 km), ice and dust-rich object orbiting sun

Question 3

meteorite

Answer 3

particle of solid matter that has FALLEN to Earth, the moon, another planet

Question 4

meteoroid

Answer 4

rock that enters earth’s atmosphere from space, BEFORE IT REACHES EARTH’S SURFACE

Question 5

meteor

Answer 5

ATMOSPHERIC PHENOMENON created by meteoroid in transit through atmosphere (i.e. the light)

Question 6

another name for meteor

Answer 6

shooting star or fireball

Question 7

fireball

Answer 7

exceptionally bright meteor

Question 8

how much meteorites enter Earth every day? How much survives to the earth’s surface?

Answer 8

• 100 tons/day enter
• 10 g survive

Question 9

What occurs if a meteoroid retains its cosmic velocity?

Answer 9

creates impact crater on landing

Question 10

Did the Chelyabinsk event leave an impact crater?

Answer 10

no

Question 11

NEOs vs PHAs

Answer 11

• NEOs: near earth objects; asteroids or comets; within 50 M km of earth
• PHAs: potentially hazardous asteroids; within 7.5 M km of Earth; > 140 m across

Question 12

What are the most massive residents of the Main Belt?

Answer 12

largest = Ceres
second largest = Vesta

Question 13

what was the objective of the Dawn Mission?

Answer 13

observe Ceres and Vesta

Question 14

TRUE or FALSE: Vesta had rugged topography

Answer 14

TRUE

Question 15

What are the 2 impact basins on Vesta?

Answer 15

• Rheasilvia basin
• Veneneia Basin

Question 16

TRUE or FALSE: Vesta does not have a core

Answer 16

FALSE –> Vesta HAS a core

Question 17

TRUE or FALSE: Ceres is a featureless ball.

Answer 17

FALSE –> rugged topography like Vesta

Question 18

Describe the layers of Ceres

Answer 18

• icy crust
• soft muddy mantle

Question 19

What is the purpose of the OSIRIS-REx mission? what is significant about Canada in this mission?

Answer 19

• bring back sample of asteroid Bennu
• Canadian-made Laser Altimeter

Question 20

Describe Bennu in comparison with Ceres/Vesta.

Answer 20

• more rough with more boulders
• RUBBLE PILE

Question 21

rubble pile asteroid

Answer 21

asteroid made up of loosely bound pieces of asteroids that were broken up and reassembled

Question 22

what was the purpose of the Hayabusa2 mission?

Answer 22

get sample of asteroid Ryugu

Question 23

what kind of asteroid is Ryugu?

Answer 23

rubble pile (like Bennu)

Question 24

what kind of minerals are found on both Ryugu and Bennu?

Answer 24

carbonaceous chondrites

Question 25

TRUE or FALSE: Bennu and Ryugu are NEOs

Answer 25

FALSE –> PHAs

Question 26

What is the significance of sample return?

Answer 26

• provide link between meteorites and asteroids (their parent bodies)
• provide info on physical properties of PHAs

Question 27

What is the size range of asteroids?

Answer 27

few meters to over 900 km

Question 28

Bennu and Ryugu are rubble piles, whereas Vesta and Ceres are _____________.

Answer 28

protoplanets