SDSS photometry of asteroids in cometary orbits

Abstract

Aims. Aiming at exploring the relationship between asteroids in cometary orbits and other minor body populations from the observational point of view, I explore the large photometric database of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey - Moving Objects Catalog. Methods. The sample of interest was carefully selected by analyzing colors and orbital properties within the data in the catalog. Icomputed the spectral slope for each object and compared with published spectroscopic results of other asteroids in cometary orbits, as well as with other populations of asteroids in the outer region of the main belt and Trojans. Results. Using this extended database I find that asteroids in cometary orbits with Tisserand parameter below 2.9, and especially below 2.8, are most likely of primitive origin. The population of objects with Tisserand parameter larger than 2.9 is a mixture of populations ranging from the inner to the outer main belt. © ESO, 2012.