Asteroid Belt: The “Night Spirits”

 

 

INNER BELT ASTEROID CLASSES:

                                                    

A-type asteroids

In the Dremish system, these fairly uncommon asteroids show within the spectra a strong showing of olivine. Olivine is a very common material found in the established mantle of a planet. The Olivine will be strong in either iron of magnesium (FeSiO4, MgSiO4). Iron rich olivine is found in igneous rocks, yet magnesium rocks aren’t usually sound with other silica minerals. One other oddity is that it is the magnesium olivine that is found in asteroids and meteorites. How this material found it’s way to the asteroid belt is most likely a planet with a fully developed mantle, usually from a small planet that was destroyed.

E-type of asteroids

 

                In the Dremish system, these asteroids are fairly rare as the formation of these asteroids is still up to debate. The primary item for these floating space rocks is the unusual substance called Troilite. Troilite is also known as Iron Sulfide, but Troilite is non magnetic compared to pyrrhotite, which is magnetic. Troilite being an iron sulfide is found in igneous rocks and some metamorphic rocks. So the presence of an asteroid or meteorite being made of this material must dwell on the idea of a destroyed planet large enough to establish volcanism. One theory might be a mars sized planet crashed into a larger planet or orbited too close to Drem and was therefore destroyed.

M-type asteroids

On Drem, these asteroids are fairly common. Most people know that metallic asteroids have to a certain degree small amounts of stone, and that the asteroids are usually the remnants of the cores of asteroids that have been destroyed in the past. These asteroids are fairly bright, as some are made of nickel-iron, just like planet cores are made of. These asteroids are thought to be the source of all iron meteorites that impact the planets of the Dremish system. One thing to note is that the M type asteroids are one of three basic types, as the S and C types are the other two. On Drem, some of the large asteroids can actually be considered an amalgamation of other metallic asteroids combining, as the shapes are sometimes very unusual and weird to see.

Q-type asteroids

These fairly uncommon asteroids are found to be similar to A type asteroids, with 2 significant differences. The first is the strong presence of pyroxene, which is another mantle silicate. Pyroxenes are unusual in that they can contain calcium, sodium, iron, magnesium, titanium and other minerals, including its standard silica and aluminum mixture. Pyroxenes are found in igneous and metamorphic rock within the mantle so that just like a type-A asteroid, this asteroid must be from a larger impact of some magnitude. Unusually for this type of asteroid is a small presence of metals, usually seen as iron or magnesium.

R-type asteroids

These asteroids are somewhat bright and fairly uncommon asteroid fairly similar to type-Q asteroids. The difference with Q-type asteroids is instead of the presence of metal; these asteroids show a presence of plagioclase. Plagioclase shows up as either calcium aluminum or a sodium aluminum style silicate. Either way, the mineral is commonly called Feldspar. The plagioclase is found in igneous rocks with pyroxenes, and so the connection is easy to make. The type of feldspar found currently is similar to earth feldspars called Labradorite, which shows a bluish iridescence when light is passed thru the crystal structure.

OUTER BELT ASTEROID CLASSES:

D-type asteroids

In the Dremish system, these asteroids present an odd set of questions. Most of the debate presents these asteroids forming from the very beginning of the system and show an unusual chemistry. Being like a type-C asteroid, these asteroids have a very low albedo. The strange qualities of the asteroids show up in the organic rich silicates, carbon and anhydrous silicates that are commonly found in these asteroids. These asteroids have a lot of similarities with comets with the anhydrous silicates, and so the asteroids are always found far out in the solar system. Debate rages on, but common thought is that these asteroids have an icy core. What the icy core is made of, is still up for debate. Due to the rich organics, these asteroids show a reddish color due to the tholins on the surface.

P-type asteroids

These asteroids are very similar to D-types as the chemical similarities are all there, except for 1 main thing. The main difference is that there is water mixed in with the organic rich silicates, carbon and anhydrous silicates. Like the D-type, these asteroids contain a reddish hue due to the tholins on the surface. These asteroids also come from a very early time period of the systems formation, and also are only found far out in the solar systems.

V-type asteroids

The V-type asteroids are fairly rare in the far asteroid belt of Drem, since this far out, icy carbonaceous asteroids are more likely. Yet, these asteroids do show up. They have more pyroxene than a standard S-type asteroid. Another feature of these asteroids is the spectra of basalt, yet not any type of basalt, but of achondritic basalt. Where one finds this type, since on earth, achondrite meteorites are usually from the Mare (basalt) seas of the Moon. The debate will continue as one need a place of large impact craters and lave seas to be impacted for these to even exist. One theory is that a moon or planet was destroyed providing this very rare type of stony-silicate asteroid.

Closer than life belt (destroyed small proto-planet core, remains of asteroid impacts)

Type                                      Inner Belt: metallic, some silicates

Asteroid Belt mass                 .000006 of earth (almost 1000 times less than Sol’s belt)

Belt size                                 ½ distances between orbits

Inner edge of belt:                   .0112 AU

               Year length             .00237 (.8635 days)

Middle part of belt                  .0188 AU

               Year length             .0051555 (1.878 days)

Outer edge of belt:                  .0264 AU

               Year length             .008579 (3.125 days)

 

Notable Asteroids:

              

Warriors Heart is a close-in, hot metallic asteroid that is almost totally metal, specifically nickel-iron mix. The asteroid is covered in a fine stony dust which dulls the surface somewhat, yet the Albedo stays high, and the asteroid is easily seen when orbiting away from Drem.

 

               Name:                     Warriors Heart

               Class                      M

               Distance:                 .0188 AU

               Material:                 Nickel/Iron

               Orbit period:           .0051555 (1.878 days)         

               Inclination:               10.584 degrees                     

               Eccentricity:            .0793

               Size:                        9.1 km

               Density:                   1.2 of earth

               Mass:                      of earth

               Rotational period:    tidally locked

               Axial tilt:                  1 degree

               Albedo:                   .113       

               Surf Grav:               G’s

              

Shadow Beast is a close-in, hot silicate asteroid that is almost totally silicates mixed with some darker stone. The asteroid is covered in a fine stony dust which dulls the surface somewhat. The colors overall are darker due to the larger amount of green olivine, black pyroxene, and brown to black plagioclase. Therefore, the asteroid is darker than normal asteroids, yet is so large as to still be easily seen.

 

               Name:                     Shadow Beast

               Class                      R

               Distance:                 .0179 AU

               Material:                 Silicates – spectra show olivine, pyroxene & plagioclase

               Orbit period:           .0047897 (1.7446 days)       

               Inclination:               38.846 degrees                     

               Eccentricity:            .23

               Size:                        467 km

               Density:                   .9 of earth

               Mass:                      of earth

               Rotational period:    tidally locked

               Axial tilt:                  2 degrees

               Albedo:                   .159       

               Surf Grav:               G’s

 

Guardian is a close-in, hot metallic asteroid that is almost totally metal, specifically nickel-iron mix. The asteroid is covered in a fine stony dust which dulls the surface somewhat, yet the Albedo stays high, and the asteroid is easily seen when orbiting away from Drem.

 

               Name:                     Guardian

               Class:                      M

               Distance:                 .0195

               Material:                 Nickel/Iron

               Orbit period:           .005446 (1.98373 days)

               Inclination:               12.972 degrees                     

               Eccentricity:            .2589

               Size:                        4.23 km

               Density:                   1.2 of earth

               Mass:                      of earth

               Rotational period:    tidally locked

               Axial tilt:                  4 degrees

               Albedo:                   .238                       

               Surf Grav:               G’s

              

Shining Claw is a close-in, hot metallic asteroid that is almost totally metal, specifically nickel-iron mix. The asteroid is covered in a fine stony dust which dulls the surface somewhat, yet the Albedo stays high, and the asteroid is easily seen when orbiting away from Drem.

 

               Name:                     Shining Claw

               Class:                      M

               Distance:                 .0192     

               Material:                 Nickel-Iron

               Orbit period:           .005321 (1.9381 days)

               Inclination:               7.1346 degrees                     

               Eccentricity:            .089753

               Size:                        28.9 km

               Density:                   .9 of earth

               Mass:                      of earth

               Rotational period:    tidally locked

               Axial tilt:                  1 degree

               Albedo:                   .423       

               Surf Grav:               G’s

 

Eye of Night is a close-in, hot metallic asteroid that is almost totally metal, specifically nickel-iron mix. The asteroid is covered in a fine stony dust which dulls the surface somewhat, yet the Albedo stays high, and the asteroid is easily seen when orbiting away from Drem.

 

               Name:                     Eye of Night

               Class:                      M

               Distance:                 .0186

               Material:                 Nickel/Iron

               Orbit period:           .0050734 (1.84799 days)

               Inclination:               4.097 degrees                       

               Eccentricity:            .1738752

               Size:                        .7 km

               Density:                   1.2 of earth

               Mass:                      of earth

               Rotational period:    tidally locked

               Axial tilt:                  1 degree

               Albedo:                   .1                                          

               Surf Grav:               G’s

              

Night Stalker is a close-in, hot silicate asteroid that is almost totally silicates from deeper in a mantle. The asteroid is covered in a fine stony dust which dulls the surface somewhat. The color runs from stony grey to creamy tans, but mixed in are obvious greens from olivine and black from the pyroxene. There are chunks of nickel-iron also found within, yet harder to see.

 

               Name:                     Night Stalker

               Class:                      Q

               Distance:                 .0196

               Material:                 Silicates – Spectra shows Olivine, Pyroxene and a bit of metal (nickel/iron)

               Orbit period:           .005488 (1.999004 days)

               Inclination:               1.1371 degrees                     

               Eccentricity:            .043109

               Size:                        263 km

               Density:                   .9 of earth

               Mass:                      of earth

               Rotational period:    tidally locked

               Axial tilt:                  1 degree

               Albedo:                   .24         

               Surf Grav:               G’s

 

Blood Oath is a close-in, hot metallic asteroid that is almost totally metal, specifically nickel-iron mix. The asteroid is covered in a fine stony dust which dulls the surface somewhat, yet the Albedo stays high, and the asteroid is easily seen when orbiting away from Drem.

 

               Name:                     Blood Oath

               Class:                      M

               Distance:                 .0199

               Material:                 Nickel/Iron

               Orbit period:           .0056145 (2.047045 days)

               Inclination:               8 degrees               

               Eccentricity:            .13

               Size:                        16.3 km

               Density:                   1.2 of earth

               Mass:                      of earth

               Rotational period:    tidally locked

               Axial tilt:                  1 degree

               Albedo:                   .2                           

               Surf Grav:               G’s

              

Spirit of the Hunt is a close-in, hot silicate asteroid that is almost totally silicates from a volcanic mantle. The asteroid is covered in a fine stony dust which dulls the surface somewhat. The color is more of a yellow due to the large presence of sulfur in the asteroid. Due to the color, the asteroid is also brighter than normal silicate asteroids.

 

               Name:                     Spirit of the Hunt

               Class:                      E            

               Distance:                 .019

               Material:                 Silicates – strong presence of Triolite (FeS)

               Orbit period:           .005238 (1.90792 days)

               Inclination:               10.83 degrees                       

               Eccentricity:            .222885

               Size:                        28.54 km

               Density:                   .9 of earth

               Mass:                      of earth

               Rotational period:    tidally locked

               Axial tilt:                  6 degrees

               Albedo:                   .16         

               Surf Grav:               G’s

 

Fertility Spirit is a close-in, hot metallic asteroid that is almost totally metal, specifically nickel-iron mix. The asteroid is covered in a fine stony dust which dulls the surface somewhat, yet the Albedo stays high, and the asteroid is easily seen when orbiting away from Drem.

 

               Name:                     Fertility Spirit

               Class:                      M

               Distance:                 .0127

               Material:                 Nickel/Iron

               Orbit period:           .002862 (1.042642 days)

               Inclination:               6.7089 degrees                     

               Eccentricity:            .266182

               Size:                        2.53 km

               Density:                   1.2 of earth

               Mass:                      of earth

               Rotational period:    tidally locked

               Axial tilt:                  14 degrees

               Albedo:                   .44                         

               Surf Grav:               G’s

              

Warriors Speed is a close-in, hot silicate asteroid that is almost silicate from within a mantle. The asteroid is covered in a fine stony dust which dulls the surface somewhat. The color is a fine creamy tan, making it appear a bit brighter than normal silicate asteroids. It also has a greenish tint due to the olivine within it.

 

               Name:                     Warriors Speed

               Class:                      A

               Distance:                 .0182

               Material:                 Silicates – spectra strongly shows olivine

               Orbit period:           .004911 (1.788696 days)

               Inclination:               .46959 degrees                     

               Eccentricity:            .6342274

               Size:                        2.3 km

               Density:                   .9 of earth

               Mass:                      of earth

               Rotational period:    tidally locked

               Axial tilt:                  1 degree

               Albedo:                   .16         

               Surf Grav:               G’s

 

Spirit of Plenty is a close-in, hot metallic asteroid that is almost totally metal, specifically nickel-iron mix. The asteroid is covered in a fine stony dust which dulls the surface somewhat, yet the Albedo stays high, and the asteroid is easily seen when orbiting away from Drem.

 

               Name:                     Spirit of Plenty

               Class:                      M

               Distance:                 .019

               Material:                 Nickel/Iron

               Orbit period:           .005238 (1.90792 days)

               Inclination:               13.34 degrees                       

               Eccentricity:            .3354

               Size:                        .55 km

               Density:                   1.1 of earth

               Mass:                      of earth

               Rotational period:    tidally locked

               Axial tilt:                  1 degree

               Albedo:                   .326                       

               Surf Grav:               G’s

              

Good Hunt is a close-in, hot silicate asteroid that is almost totally silicates from a mantle. The asteroid is covered in a fine stony dust which dulls the surface somewhat. Just like other silicate asteroids, the color is a fine tan color mixed with green from the olivine.

 

               Name:                     Good Hunt

               Class:                      A

               Distance:                 .0183

               Material:                 Silicates – spectra strongly shows olivine

               Orbit period:           .0049512 (1.8034586 days)

               Inclination:               13.138 degrees                     

               Eccentricity:            .2531

               Size:                        130 km

               Density:                   .9 of earth

               Mass:                      of earth

               Rotational period:    tidally locked

               Axial tilt:                  16 degrees

               Albedo:                   .16 of earth            

               Surf Grav:               G’s

 

The Spear is a close-in, hot metallic asteroid that is almost totally metal, specifically nickel-iron mix. The asteroid is covered in a fine stony dust which dulls the surface somewhat, yet the Albedo stays high, and the asteroid is easily seen when orbiting away from Drem.

 

               Name:                     The Spear

               Class:                      M

               Distance:                 .0181

               Material:                 Nickel/Iron

               Orbit period:           .0048702 (1.77397 days)

               Inclination:               1.48127 degrees                   

               Eccentricity:            .201514

               Size:                        .34 km

               Density:                   1.2 of earth

               Mass:                      of earth

               Rotational period:    tidally locked

               Axial tilt:                  4 degrees

               Albedo:                   .15                         

               Surf Grav:               G’s

              

Safe Hunt is a close-in, hot silicate asteroid that is almost totally silicate material from a mantle. The asteroid is covered in a fine stony dust which dulls the surface somewhat, The color within is a tan stony color mixed with the greenish color of olivine.

 

               Name:                     Safe Hunt

               Class:                      A

               Distance:                 .0178

               Material:                 Silicates – Spectra strongly shows olivine

               Orbit period:           .0047496 (1.730054 days)

               Inclination:               9.4316 degrees                     

               Eccentricity:            .3495

               Size:                        110 km

               Density:                   .9 of earth

               Mass:                      of earth

               Rotational period:    tidally locked

               Axial tilt:                  1 degree

               Albedo:                   .15         

               Surf Grav:               G’s

 

Spirit of Loyalty is a close-in, hot metallic asteroid that is almost totally metal, specifically nickel-iron mix. The asteroid is covered in a fine stony dust which dulls the surface somewhat, yet the Albedo stays high, and the asteroid is easily seen when orbiting away from Drem.

 

               Name:                     Spirit of Loyalty

               Class:                      M

               Distance:                 .0192

               Material:                 Nickel/Iron

               Orbit period:           .005321 (1.9381 days)         

               Inclination:               2.28701 degrees                   

               Eccentricity:            .6011738

               Size:                        .81 km

               Density:                   1.2 of earth

               Mass:                      of earth

               Rotational period:    tidally locked

               Axial tilt:                  14 degrees

               Albedo:                   .15                         

               Surf Grav:               G’s

              

Spirit of Truth is a close-in, hot metallic asteroid that is almost totally metal, specifically nickel-iron mix. The asteroid is covered in a fine stony dust which dulls the surface somewhat, yet the Albedo stays high, and the asteroid is easily seen when orbiting away from Drem.

 

               Name:                     Spirit of Truth

               Class:                      M

               Distance:                 .019

               Material:                 Nickel/Iron

               Orbit period:           .005238 (1.90792 days)

               Inclination:               8.88806 degrees                   

               Eccentricity:            .48324394

               Size:                        2.5 km    

               Density:                   1.2 of earth

               Mass:                      of earth

               Rotational period:    tidally locked

               Axial tilt:                  1 degree

               Albedo:                   .15         

               Surf Grav:               G’s

 

Copyright 2006 by Kevin Urbanczyk

All Rights Reserved

 

Used with Celestia 1.4.1

 

Chris Laurel <claurel@www.shatters.net>

Clint Weisbrod <cweisbrod@cogeco.ca>

Fridger Schrempp <t00fri@mail.desy.de>

Bob Ippolito <bob@redivi.com>

Christophe Teyssier <chris@teyssier.org>

Hank Ramsey <hramsey@users.sourceforge.net>

Grant Hutchison <granthutchison@blueyonder.co.uk>

 

Resource sites:

Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

Solstation: http://www.solstation.com/