Spatially resolved spectral observations of Asteroid 951 Gaspra

On October 29, 1991 the Galileo spacecraft encountered Asteroid 951 Gaspra with a telescopic CCD camera and a near infrared mapping spectrometer that provided the first optically resolved views of any asteroid. Data from these two sensors were combined to detect the spectral signature of iron bearing minerals on this S-type asteroid. A minimum of two spectral units were identified on 951 Gaspra, both containing a higher relative abundance of olivine than those found in ordinary chondrites. These data indicate that this S asteroid is an object that has undergone igneous differentiation processes. A 2.7 μm spectral feature was also detected on the surface of 951 Gaspra and may be due to the presence of structural OH.

► Iron bearing minerals on Asteroid 951 Gaspra were detected in Galileo data.
► A high relative abundance of olivine was measured for 951 Gaspra.
► Findings indicate that 951 Gaspra has been subjected to igneous processes.
► A 2.7 μm spectral feature was detected on the surface of 951 Gaspra.