[Previous] | [Session 50] | [Next]
I.M. Vass (University of Florida, Gainesville), K Grogan (Goddard Space Flight Center), S.F. Dermott (University of Florida, Gainesville)
We present new, detailed models of the central Solar System dust band, which is composed of dust originating in the Themis and Koronis asteroid families and is localized in the asteroid belt. This in-ecliptic feature is clearly visible in the IRAS and COBE data sets. Using numerical simulations we investigate the dynamical history of the constituent dust particles and using IRAS data we constrain our three-dimensional models of the central band to obtain information on the total surface area and size-frequency distribution of the dust and the relative contribution of Themis and Koronis material to the composite central band. This results, combined with results we have previously obtained on the ten degree dust band, represent significant new information on the collisional evolution of the asteroid belt.