Near-infrared spectroscopy of the Sulamitis asteroid family: Surprising similarities in the inner belt primitive asteroid population

• Published in: Icarus (New York, N.Y. 1962) N.Y. 1962), 2021-04, Vol.358, p.114210, Article 114210
• Main Authors: Arredondo, Anicia, Campins, Humberto, Pinilla-Alonso, Noemi, de León, Julia, Lorenzi, Vania, Morate, David
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Asteroids; Infrared observations; Spectroscopy
• ISSN: 0019-1035; 1090-2643
• DOI: 10.1016/j.icarus.2020.114210

We present NIR spectra of 19 asteroids in the Sulamitis family as part of our survey of primitive inner belt asteroid families. The spectra were obtained with NASA's Infrared Telescope Facility and the Telescopio Nazionale Galileo between January 2017 and February 2020. We find spectral homogeneity in our sample despite the diversity within the family observed at visible wavelengths. The average Sulamitis spectrum is flat with a spectral slope of 0.89 ± 0.26%/1000 Å between 0.95 and 2.3 μm. We show that the Sulamitis family is spectrally similar to other inner belt families in the NIR, despite differences between families seen in the visible wavelength range. We also compare our obtained spectra with asteroids (101955) Bennu and (162173) Ryugu to show that the Sulamitis family is a plausible source of Ryugu. •New NIR observations of 19 members of the Sulamitis family.•The average Sulamitis spectrum is flat with a spectral slope of 0.89 ± 0.26%/1000 Å.•The average Sulamitis and Polana family spectra are similar within the uncertainties.•The Sulamitis family is a possible source for NEA (162173) Ryugu.