BY LETTER
Carbonaceous type asteroid
 Image from John M Dollan |
Rich in carbon, these bodies are largely pristine and unchanged objects, relics from the formation of their solar system. Rich in organic compounds, they are fairly reddish in coloration, and may contain sizable reservoirs of volatiles such as water ice. They are typically found in the outer most regions of their inner system region, although gravitational scattering over time can of course produce some highly eccentric orbits.
Related Articles
Appears in Topics
Development Notes
Text by M. Alan Kazlev and John M. Dollan
Initially published on 24 September 2001.
Initially published on 24 September 2001.
