Diverse evolutionary pathways of spheroidal asteroids driven by rotation rate
Abstract Asteroids preserve a continuous record of evolutionary processes since the early solar system. They can take various shapes that represent the cumulative results of their evolution. However, for those showing common characteristics, this does not mean that they followed the same evolutionar...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-94574-1 |
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| author | Yuta Shimizu Hideaki Miyamoto Patrick Michel |
| author_facet | Yuta Shimizu Hideaki Miyamoto Patrick Michel |
| author_sort | Yuta Shimizu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Asteroids preserve a continuous record of evolutionary processes since the early solar system. They can take various shapes that represent the cumulative results of their evolution. However, for those showing common characteristics, this does not mean that they followed the same evolutionary path. Here, we show that (101955) Bennu and (162173) Ryugu, two near-Earth asteroids with spheroidal shapes, have evolved through distinct pathways despite their similar shapes. Using high-resolution imagery from NASA’s OSIRIS-REx and JAXA’s Hayabusa2 spacecraft, we map ~ 200,000 boulders and find latitudinal particle size sorting on both bodies. This represents opposite directions of surface material movements driven by their different rotation periods (4.3 h for Bennu and 7.6 h for Ryugu): toward the equator on Bennu and toward the poles on Ryugu. Furthermore, the spatial distribution of large boulders on Bennu suggests a prior slower rotation (> 5 h), implying a past shape evolution similar to that of Ryugu. Our findings demonstrate that small variations in rotation period, on the scale of a few hours, can drastically change the gravitational field on an asteroid, sometimes even reversing local gravity direction. This drives complex and diverse evolutionary pathways of asteroids, resulting in top-shaped bodies and binary systems observed today. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-00cc8c12a4b7480381f8c84df669f0b5 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
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| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-00cc8c12a4b7480381f8c84df669f0b52025-08-20T02:28:03ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-04-0115111110.1038/s41598-025-94574-1Diverse evolutionary pathways of spheroidal asteroids driven by rotation rateYuta Shimizu0Hideaki Miyamoto1Patrick Michel2Department of Systems Innovation, School of Engineering, The University of TokyoDepartment of Systems Innovation, School of Engineering, The University of TokyoDepartment of Systems Innovation, School of Engineering, The University of TokyoAbstract Asteroids preserve a continuous record of evolutionary processes since the early solar system. They can take various shapes that represent the cumulative results of their evolution. However, for those showing common characteristics, this does not mean that they followed the same evolutionary path. Here, we show that (101955) Bennu and (162173) Ryugu, two near-Earth asteroids with spheroidal shapes, have evolved through distinct pathways despite their similar shapes. Using high-resolution imagery from NASA’s OSIRIS-REx and JAXA’s Hayabusa2 spacecraft, we map ~ 200,000 boulders and find latitudinal particle size sorting on both bodies. This represents opposite directions of surface material movements driven by their different rotation periods (4.3 h for Bennu and 7.6 h for Ryugu): toward the equator on Bennu and toward the poles on Ryugu. Furthermore, the spatial distribution of large boulders on Bennu suggests a prior slower rotation (> 5 h), implying a past shape evolution similar to that of Ryugu. Our findings demonstrate that small variations in rotation period, on the scale of a few hours, can drastically change the gravitational field on an asteroid, sometimes even reversing local gravity direction. This drives complex and diverse evolutionary pathways of asteroids, resulting in top-shaped bodies and binary systems observed today.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-94574-1 |
| spellingShingle | Yuta Shimizu Hideaki Miyamoto Patrick Michel Diverse evolutionary pathways of spheroidal asteroids driven by rotation rate Scientific Reports |
| title | Diverse evolutionary pathways of spheroidal asteroids driven by rotation rate |
| title_full | Diverse evolutionary pathways of spheroidal asteroids driven by rotation rate |
| title_fullStr | Diverse evolutionary pathways of spheroidal asteroids driven by rotation rate |
| title_full_unstemmed | Diverse evolutionary pathways of spheroidal asteroids driven by rotation rate |
| title_short | Diverse evolutionary pathways of spheroidal asteroids driven by rotation rate |
| title_sort | diverse evolutionary pathways of spheroidal asteroids driven by rotation rate |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-94574-1 |
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