Spectra Of Asteroid Families In Support Of Gaia

Spectroscopy of asteroids can be diagnostic of their surface composition and other properties such as internal structure. The European Space Agency\u27s Gaia mission will result in a dramatic increase in the number and quality of asteroid spectra in the 0.35-0.9 μm wavelength range. This homogeneous set of spectra, with high sensitivity in the near-ultraviolet, will be of great benefit to the study of asteroids. In this work, we focus on Gaia\u27s expected contributions to the understanding of asteroids families and we use the Themis family as an example. Spectra of main belt asteroids as small as 2 km in diameter will constrain or determine the composition and thermal evolution of a family\u27s parent body. In the case of the Themis family, Gaia\u27s spectra will also help establish the role of water and hydrated minerals in the evolution of this family, including the puzzling nature of the main belt comets or activated asteroids within this family. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved