Meteoritic parent bodies: Their number and identification

摘要: Extensive collection efforts in Antarctica and the Sahara past 10 years have greatly increased number of known meteorites. Groupings meteorites according to petrologic, mineralogical, bulkchemical, isotopic properties suggest existence 100–150 distinct parent bodies. Dynamical studies imply that most their source bodies main belt not among near-Earth asteroids. Spectral observations asteroids are currently primary way determining asteroid mineralogies. Linkages between ordinary chondrites S asteroids, CM C-type HEDs 4 Vesta, iron meteorites, enstatite chondrites, M discussed. However, it is difficult conclusively link with particular meteorite groups due similar spectral uncertainties optical, chemical, physical regolith.