Composition and Space-weathering Characteristics of the Tianwen-2 Mission’s First Target: Near-Earth Asteroid (469219) Kamo‘oalewaOPEN ACCESS 

· by · in , , , ,

Minge Liu, Yazhou Yang, Yang Liu, Jian-Yang Li, Qing Zhang, Jiang Zhang, and Yongliao Zou

The Astrophysical Journal Letters, Volume 997, Number 2, Published 29 January 2026

LINK (OPEN ACCESS)
PDF (OPEN ACCESS)

“The near-Earth asteroid Kamo‘oalewa, a quasi-satellite of the Earth and the first target for sample return by China’s Tianwen-2 mission, exhibits distinctive spectral characteristics. This study reanalyzes the visible and near-infrared reflectance spectrum of Kamo‘oalewa published by B. N. L. Sharkey et al. This study analyzes the visible and near-infrared reflectance spectrum of Kamo‘oalewa, obtained using the Large Binocular Telescope, to infer its mineral composition and space-weathering characteristics. Spectral similarity analysis is performed, by comparing the spectrum of Kamo‘oalewa to mean spectra of various types in the Bus–DeMeo taxonomy, to make a preliminary constraint on the combined characteristics of surface mineralogy and space-weathering effects. To further characterize the mineral composition, a detailed analysis of the 1 μm band center is conducted, based on spectral data below 1.25 μm that have higher signal-to-noise ratios and more bands. Empirical models for normalized spectra are developed to estimate the Is/FeO content. The results suggest that asteroid Kamo‘oalewa has a higher olivine abundance than typical S-type asteroids and the Moon, exhibiting an immature to submature degree of space weathering. These findings enhance our understanding of the evolution of similar quasi-satellites and provide important implication for the future explorations of the Tianwen-2 mission.”

Related posts (automatically generated):

  1. (469219) Kamoʻoalewa, A Space Weathering Matured Small NEA: Target of the Tianwen-2 Sample-Return MissionOPEN ACCESS 
  2. Spectral evolution of dark asteroid surfaces induced by space weathering over a decadeOPEN ACCESS 
  3. Diverse space weathering effects on asteroid surfaces as inferred via laser irradiation of meteoritesOPEN ACCESS 
  4. Space Weathering of Genesis Mission Solar-wind Collectors with Inferences for Weathering on Airless BodiesOPEN ACCESS 
  5. Space weathering acts strongly on the uppermost surface of RyuguOPEN ACCESS 
  6. Simulation of Space Weathering on Asteroid Spectra through Hydrogen Ion Irradiation of MeteoritesOPEN ACCESS 
  7. Overview of the search for signs of space weathering on the low-albedo asteroid (101955) BennuOPEN ACCESS 
  8. Evidence of global space weathering by solar wind on asteroid 162173 Ryugu
  9. Asteroid Kamo‘oalewa’s journey from the lunar Giordano Bruno crater to Earth 1:1 resonance
  10. Surface Modifications of a Space-weathered Ryugu Sample and the Reflectance Spectral ResponseOPEN ACCESS 
Tags: , , , , , , , , ,