A Visible Spectroscopic Survey of the Flora Clan

Abstract

We observed 47 Flora clan members at the ESO (European Southern Observatory) in the wavelength range 4900–9200 Å. We found 42 objects with common characteristics: a maximum around λ = 7500 Å and a reflectivity gradient spanning a continuous but limited range. Only five objects show different spectral behavior (one is probably V type). Looking for meteorite analogs, we only find four ordinary chondrites that present features similar to those of the lower part of the Flora spectral distribution. This behavior is consistent as the consequence of some space-weathering process.