Landslides and Mass Shedding on Spinning Spheroidal Asteroids

TL;DR

This paper investigates the conditions under which landslides and mass shedding occur on spinning spheroidal asteroids, analyzing surface stability, shape evolution, and observable traits near disruption limits.

Contribution

It applies classical granular mechanics to asteroid environments to determine slope evolution, material behavior, and shape changes due to spin, providing new insights into asteroid surface dynamics.

Findings

Identifies conditions for landslides on spinning asteroids

Predicts shape modifications near surface disruption limits

Links observed asteroid activity to mass shedding mechanisms

Abstract

Conditions for regolith landslides to occur on spinning, gravitating spheroidal asteroids and their aftermath are studied. These conditions are developed by application of classical granular mechanics stability analysis to the asteroid environment. As part of our study we determine how slopes evolve across the surface of these bodies as a function of spin rate, the dynamical fate of material that exceeds the angle of repose, and an analysis of how the shape of the body may be modified based on these results. We find specific characteristics for body surfaces and shapes when spun near the surface disruption limit and develop what their observable implications are. The small, oblate and rapidly spinning asteroids such as 1999 KW4 Alpha and 2008 EV5 exhibit some of these observable traits. The detailed mechanisms outlined here can also provide insight and constraints on the recently observed active asteroids such as P/2013 P5, and the creation of asteroidal meteor streams.