Interior of top-shaped asteroids with cohesionless surface

Multiple sources of evidence suggest that asteroids ranging from hundreds meters to few kilometers in size are rubble piles, i.e. gravitational aggregates loosely consolidated material. However, no direct data on their internal structure is available date. Cohesion between rubble-pile building blocks has been invoked the past explain stability top-shaped asteroids, which most cases would not be capable maintaining large-scale shape features (low flattening, and a pronounced equatorial ridge) otherwise. physical origin cohesion unclear there it. Recent close-range imaging local sampling surfaces Near Earth Asteroids (NEA) presence very porous surface with minimal strength nearly cohesion. This raises new questions about such objects, important implications evolution. Here we show by numerically simulating dynamics irregular rocky fragments, rigid core within asteroid’s can top observed recently Bennu Ryugu, without need blocks. Also, find model produces more easily mass shedding, thought responsible for satellite formation. The never revealed so far, but consistent accretion history those recent estimates distribution. Our findings will tested directly ESA’s Hera mission, scan interior Dimorphos, small moon Didymos binary system, providing first time NEA.