Reflectance Spectroscopy of Chondrites

Chondrites are an important class of meteorites from the perspective of solar system history and evolution and astrobiology. They include carbonaceous (C), ordinary (O), Rumuruti (R), Kakangari (K), and enstatite (E) chondrites. Possible parent bodies of the CCs are the targets of two ongoing asteroid sample return missions, OSIRIS-REx and Hayabusa2, and an OC parent body was the target of the JAXA Hayabusa sample return mission. Reflectance spectroscopy of different classes of chondrites has shown that various spectroscopic properties, such as albedo, overall slope, presence or absence of absorption bands, and absorption band depths and positions can be used to distinguish different types of CCs, as well as to distinguish different classes of OCs, and to recognize R and E chondrites. Laboratory studies of the spectral reflectance properties of chondrites enhance our ability to relate different classes of chondrites to either specific asteroids or a taxonomic class.