The darkest of the larger asteroids - that is the one that reflects
least of the sunlight falling upon it - is 95 Arethusa. Its
reflectivity is put at 1.9%. It belongs to the C-type of asteroids, the
C standing for 'carbonaceous'. They are the most common type
of asteroid and account for up to 80% of the population in the
outer part of the asteroid belt. Other classes of dark asteroids are
the P-type and D-type. The surfaces of all these objects are as dark
as coal with reflectivities of around 2 to 6%.
Other very dark asteroids among the larger members of the
asteroid belt (with their reflectivities) include 36 Atalante (2.4%),
46 Hestia (2.8%), 47 Aglaia (2.7%), 56 Melete (2.6%), 65 Cybele
(2.2%) and 94 Aurora (2.9%).
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