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arXiv · 1209.1430

Revising the age for the Baptistina asteroid family using WISE/NEOWISE data

Joseph R. Masiero·A. K. Mainzer·T. Grav·J. M. Bauer·R. Jedicke
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Abstract

We have used numerical routines to model the evolution of a simulated Baptistina family to constrain its age in light of new measurements of the diameters and albedos of family members from the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer. We also investigate the effect of varying the assumed physical and orbital parameters on the best-fitting age. We find that the physically allowed range of assumed values for the density and thermal conductivity induces a large uncertainty in the rate of evolution. When realistic uncertainties in the family members' physical parameters are taken into account we find the best-fitting age can fall anywhere in the range of 140-320 Myr. Without more information on the physical properties of the family members it is difficult to place a more firm constraint on Baptistina's age.

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Joseph R. Masiero, A. K. Mainzer, T. Grav, J. M. Bauer, R. Jedicke. 2012-09-07. Revising the age for the Baptistina asteroid family using WISE/NEOWISE data. https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637x/759/1/14

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