3D shape models for describing monolithic asteroids and meteoroids

Abstract

Context. Detailed knowledge of shapes is necessary for modeling certain processes affecting small Solar System bodies, such as the influence of radiative effects – like the YORP effect – on rotation. For meteoroids and small monolithic asteroids, such shapes have not been available up till now. This has strongly limited the possibilities of theoretical studies of the non-gravitational phenomena acting on these bodies.Aims. Our goal is to create a database of digital 3D shape models that would be suitable for describing the shapes of meteoroids and small monolithic asteroids.Methods. We performed catastrophic disruption experiments on samples from L3-6 ordinary chondrite NWA 869 and terrestrial tephriphonolite, including one hypervelocity impact and two explosion experiments. We selected fragments with masses of m ≥ 0.2 g that originated from the interior of the samples and did not contain the original target surface. Their size range is approximately 5–24 mm. Their shapes were digitized using X-ray computed tomography, with voxel sizes of about 50 µm.Results. The resulting database contains 868 shape models in Wavefront OBJ format, as well as a list of the basic properties of each one. The numbers of triangular surface facets of these models range from ∼20 000 to ∼760 000. These shape models correspond to meteoroids and small asteroids created by hypervelocity collisions. When using this database for a particular purpose, it is necessary to consider the selection of appropriate models based on the absence or presence of certain morphological features, such as chondrules, significant cracks, or minor artefacts. The possible presence of these features in a specific shape model has been recorded in the database.