Reading: McSween et al. (2002)
1. Why do the authors favor live 26Al as the main heat source for asteroids?
2. What effect does porosity or regolith in parent bodies have on asteroid thermal models?
3. According to the authors, what effect does an increased initial water content in parent bodies have on asteroid thermal models?
4. According to the authors, what effect will redistribution of 26Al caused by melting have on the thermal evolution of asteroid 4-Vesta?
5. The authors suggest that heating by decay of 26Al is
consistent with the Bell et al. "big picture" model we read earlier.
Based on the evidence provided in this paper or others, why might we question
this conclusion?