Optical Effects of Space Weathering in the Main Belt of Asteroids

Asteroids do not have an atmosphere and magnetic field that would preserve their surface against environmental activity. Space weathering result in changing the optical properties of asteroids (the optical maturation effect) and may be the source of confusion at remote sensing asteroid surfaces. In this book, we argue that the maturity degree in the asteroid belt is low and does not interfere with the spectral analysis of asteroid surfaces by their reflectance spectra.