V-type Near-Earth asteroids: dynamics, close encounters and impacts with terrestrial planets

TL;DR

This study analyzes the impact probability of V-type Near-Earth Asteroids on terrestrial planets and the Moon over 10 million years, identifying potential crater links and impact rates, especially on Earth.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed simulation-based assessment of impact risks and crater correlations for V-type NEAs with terrestrial planets.

Findings

V-type NEAs impact Earth approximately once every 12 million years.

Four candidate craters on Earth may have been caused by V-type NEAs.

V-type NEAs can impact all terrestrial planets and the Moon.

Abstract

Asteroids colliding with planets vary in composition and taxonomical type. Among Near-Earth Asteroids (NEAs) are the V-types, basaltic asteroids that are classified via spectroscopic observations. In this work, we study the probability of V-type NEAs colliding with Earth, Mars and Venus, as well as the Moon. We perform a correlational analysis of possible craters produced by V-type NEAs. To achieve this, we performed numerical simulations and statistical analysis of close encounters and impacts between V-type NEAs and the terrestrial planets over the next 10 Myr. We find that V-type NEAs can indeed have impacts with all the planets, the Earth in particular, at an average rate of once per 12 Myr. There are four candidate craters on Earth that were likely caused by V-type NEAs.