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Science 24 December 2004:
Vol. 306. no. 5705, pp. 2224 - 2227
DOI: 10.1126/science.1105427
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Reports

Detection of a Deep 3-µm Absorption Feature in the Spectrum of Amalthea (JV)

Naruhisa Takato,1* Schelte J. Bus,2 Hiroshi Terada,1 Tae-Soo Pyo,1 Naoto Kobayashi3

Near-infrared spectra of Jupiter's small inner satellites Amalthea and Thebe are similar to those of D-type asteroids in the 0.8- to 2.5-micrometer wavelength range. A deep absorption feature is detected at 3 micrometers in the spectra of the trailing side of Amalthea, which is similar to that of the non-ice components of Callisto and can be attributed to hydrous minerals. These surface materials cannot be explained if the satellite formed at its present orbit by accreting from a circumjovian nebula. Amalthea and Thebe may be the remnants of Jupiter's inflowing building blocks that formed in the outer part or outside of the circumjovian nebula.

1 Subaru Telescope, National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, 650 North Àohoku Place, Hilo, Hawaii 96720, USA.
2 Institute for Astronomy, University of Hawaii, 640 North Àohoku Place, Hilo, Hawaii 96720, USA.
3 Institute of Astronomy, Graduate School of Science, University of Tokyo, 2-21-1 Osawa, Mitaka, Tokyo 181-0015, Japan.

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: takato{at}naoj.org

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