Which asteroid classes have the darkest surfaces?

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In the context of asteroid taxonomy, the classes with the darkest surfaces—characterized by low albedo—are primarily the D, C, P, F, and G classes.1

These asteroids reflect very little sunlight, with mean albedos typically ranging from 0.04 to 0.09. Specifically:1

  • D-class and P-class: These have some of the lowest albedos, with a mean value of 0.04. P-class asteroids, along with T-class asteroids, are thought to potentially contain significant amounts of carbon polymers or organic-rich silicates.1
  • C-class and F-class: These exhibit a mean albedo of 0.05. C-class asteroids are the most common type among larger asteroids and are associated with carbonaceous chondritic materials.1
  • G-class: These have a mean albedo of 0.09 and are similar to C-class asteroids but feature deeper absorption at shorter wavelengths.1

Generally, asteroids with low albedos (0.02–0.07) make up about 78 percent of known asteroids larger than 25 km in diameter, with the vast majority of outer-belt populations falling into this low-albedo category.2