Visible, near‐, and thermal infrared spectra of asteroid Bennu samples: Relationship to and implications for remote sensing of carbonaceous asteroids

@article{hamilton2026visible,
  title = {{Visible, near‐, and thermal infrared spectra of asteroid Bennu samples: Relationship to and implications for remote sensing of carbonaceous asteroids}},
  author = {V. E. Hamilton and E. A. Cloutis and R. E. Milliken and Pierre Haenecour and Dathon R. Golish and K. J. Domanik and T. J. McCoy and L. P. Keller and Amy A. Simon and H. H. Kaplan and Cyrena Anne Goodrich and S. A. Sandford and Daniel M. Applin and T. Hiroi and D. H. Hill and N. G. Lunning and Francis M. Mccubbin and S. A. Eckley and Christopher J. Snead and E. H. Blumenfeld and J. E. Aebersold and Cody Schultz and Neil E. Bowles and Katherine A. Shirley and S. S. Russell and J. J. Barnes and Thomas J. Zega and Daniella N. DellaGiustina and A. J. Ryan and Daniel P. GLAVIN and J. P. Dworkin and Harold C. Connolly Jr. and Dante S. LAURETTA},
  journal = {Meteoritics and Planetary Science},
  year = {2026},
  month = jun,
  doi = {10.1111/maps.70176},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1111/maps.70176},
  note = {CC BY-NC},
}

TY  - JOUR
TI  - Visible, near‐, and thermal infrared spectra of asteroid Bennu samples: Relationship to and implications for remote sensing of carbonaceous asteroids
AU  - V. E. Hamilton
AU  - E. A. Cloutis
AU  - R. E. Milliken
AU  - Pierre Haenecour
AU  - Dathon R. Golish
AU  - K. J. Domanik
AU  - T. J. McCoy
AU  - L. P. Keller
AU  - Amy A. Simon
AU  - H. H. Kaplan
AU  - Cyrena Anne Goodrich
AU  - S. A. Sandford
AU  - Daniel M. Applin
AU  - T. Hiroi
AU  - D. H. Hill
AU  - N. G. Lunning
AU  - Francis M. Mccubbin
AU  - S. A. Eckley
AU  - Christopher J. Snead
AU  - E. H. Blumenfeld
AU  - J. E. Aebersold
AU  - Cody Schultz
AU  - Neil E. Bowles
AU  - Katherine A. Shirley
AU  - S. S. Russell
AU  - J. J. Barnes
AU  - Thomas J. Zega
AU  - Daniella N. DellaGiustina
AU  - A. J. Ryan
AU  - Daniel P. GLAVIN
AU  - J. P. Dworkin
AU  - Harold C. Connolly Jr.
AU  - Dante S. LAURETTA
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/06/05
JO  - Meteoritics and Planetary Science
DO  - 10.1111/maps.70176
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1111/maps.70176
AB  - Remote spectroscopy is used to characterize the mineralogy and infer the history of planetary bodies. Carbonaceous asteroids, such as B‐type (101955) Bennu, represent the earliest stages of planet formation. B types have a blue (negative) spectral slope and comprise <5% of asteroids. Samples from Bennu returned by the OSIRIS‐REx spacecraft complement remote observations of this rare population. We show here, using laboratory spectra that are directly comparable to spacecraft data, that OSIRIS‐REx accurately determined Bennu's dust content and most of its surface composition. However, spectra of the asteroid exhibit stronger water absorptions than those of bulk samples, possibly due to hydrous, Mg‐rich phosphate or solar wind implantation at Bennu's uppermost surface. Bennu samples spectrally resemble the most aqueously altered carbonaceous meteorites and samples of (162173) Ryugu, indicating similarly pervasive aqueous alteration. However, one carbon‐enriched Bennu stone does not appear to have a spectral analog among Ryugu samples or meteorites. Our findings demonstrate the leverage obtained using a wide range of wavelengths and that sample analysis anchors the interpretations of remote sensing, leading to more robust characterization of planetary surface composition and evolution.
SN  - 1086-9379
SN  - 1945-5100
ER  -