Q-type asteroid

Q-type asteroids are relatively uncommon inner-belt asteroids with a strong, broad 1 micrometre olivine and pyroxene feature, and a spectral slope that indiciates the presence of metal. There are absorption features shortwards and longwards of 0.7 µm, and the spectrum is generally intermediate between the V and S-type.

Q-type asteroids are spectrally more similar to ordinary chondrite meteorites (types H, L, LL) than any other asteroid type. This has led scientists to speculate that they are abundant, but only a few of this type has been characterized. Examples of Q-type asteroids are: 1862 Apollo and 2063 Bacchus, as well as the unnumbered asteroids 1991 BN and 1997 US9.