A&A 391, 757-765 (2002)
DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361:20020834

Spectral properties of Mars-crossers and near-Earth objects

Results of the survey

C. A. Angeli and D. Lazzaro

Observatório Nacional/MCT, Coordenação de Astronomia e Astrofísica - CAA, 20921-400 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
(Received 12 April 2002/ Accepted 13 May 2002 )

Abstract
We present the results concerning Mars-crossing and Near-Earth asteroids of our Small Solar System Objects Spectroscopic Survey - S³OS², carried out at the ESO (La Silla, Chile). Thirty-four objects, twenty-two Mars-crossing and twelve NEAs, have been observed from November 1996 through September 2001 in the wavelength range of 4900-9200 Å. Most (twenty-seven out of thirty-four) of the objects of our sample fall in the "S-complex", including the S, Sa, Sk, Sl, Sq and A classes, as introduced by Bus (1999). The spectra of these objects resemble that of some ordinary chondrite meteorites. In spite of the small number of objects, we found also in our sample members of the C, Ld, V and X classes.

Key words: minor planets, asteroids -- solar system: general

Offprint request: C. A. Angeli, angeli@on.br

© ESO 2002