Taxonomy of potentially hazardous asteroids

Combining our results with the literature, we investigated how PHAs are distributed as a function of their dynamical and physical properties. In general, the ''carbonaceous'' PHAs seem to be particularly threatening, because of their high porosity (limiting the effectiveness of the main deflection techniques that could be used in space) and low inclination and minimum orbit intersection distance (MOID) with the Earth (favoring more frequent close approaches).

V-type PHAs also present low MOID values, which can produce frequent close approaches (as confirmed by the recent discovery of a limited space weathering on their surfaces). We also identified those specific objects that deserve particular attention because of their extreme rotational properties, internal strength, or possible cometary nature. For PHAs and NEOs in general, we identified a possible anti-correlation between the elongation and the rotational period, in the range of P_rot_~5-80hr.

This would be compatible with the behavior of gravity-dominated aggregates in rotational equilibrium. For periods >~80-90hr, such a trend stops, possibly under the influence of the YORP effect and collisions. However, the statistics is very low, and further observational and theoretical work is required to characterize such slow rotators.