L-type asteroids are relatively uncommon
asteroids with a strongly reddish spectrum shortwards of 0.75 μm, and a featureless flat spectrum longwards of this. In comparison with the
K-type, they exhibit a more reddish spectrum at visible wavelengths and a flat spectrum in the infrared.
These asteroids were described as "featureless"
S-types in the
Tholen classification
An asteroid spectral type is assigned to asteroids based on their emission spectrum, color, and sometimes albedo. These types are thought to correspond to an asteroid's surface composition. For small bodies that are not internally differentiated ...
. The L-type was formally introduced in the
SMASS classification, although previous studies had noted the unusual spectra of two of its members
387 Aquitania and
980 Anacostia.
There are 41 asteroids classified as L-types in the SMASS taxonomy.
Ld-type asteroids
The Ld type is a grouping proposed in the SMASS classification for asteroids with an L-like flat spectrum longwards of 0.75 μm, but even redder in visible wavelengths, like the
D-type. An example may be
728 Leonisis, although it has also been classified as an
A-type.
References
See also
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Asteroid spectral types
An asteroid spectral type is assigned to asteroids based on their emission spectrum, color, and sometimes albedo. These types are thought to correspond to an asteroid's surface composition. For small bodies that are not internally differentiated ...
{{DEFAULTSORT:L-Type Asteroid
Asteroid spectral classes
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