Astronomical Observations of Volatiles on Asteroids

TL;DR

This paper reviews recent advances in astronomical observations and analysis of water and hydroxyl on asteroids, highlighting spectral features, meteorite data, and future research directions.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of recent developments in detecting and understanding volatiles on asteroids using astronomical and laboratory techniques.

Findings

Spectral features of water/OH in visible and near-infrared

Implications of spacecraft data from Moon and Vesta

Future observational opportunities and research directions

Abstract

We have long known that water and hydroxyl are important components in meteorites and asteroids. However, in the time since the publication of Asteroids III, evolution of astronomical instrumentation, laboratory capabilities, and theoretical models have led to great advances in our understanding of H2O/OH on small bodies, and spacecraft observations of the Moon and Vesta have important implications for our interpretations of the asteroidal population. We begin this chapter with the importance of water/OH in asteroids, after which we will discuss their spectral features throughout the visible and near-infrared. We continue with an overview of the findings in meteorites and asteroids, closing with a discussion of future opportunities, the results from which we can anticipate finding in Asteroids V. Because this topic is of broad importance to asteroids, we also point to relevant in-depth discussions elsewhere in this volume.