Collisions and gravitational reaccumulation: Forming asteroid families andsatellites

Numerical simulations of the collisional disruption of large asteroids show that although the parent body is totally shattered, subsequent gravitation al reaccumulation leads to the formation of an entire family of large and s mall objects with dynamical properties similar to those of the parent body. Simulations were performed in two different collisional regimes representa tive of asteroid families such as Eunomia and Koronis. Our results indicate that all large family members must be made of gravitationally reaccumulate d fragments; that the post-collision member size distribution and the orbit al dispersion are steeper and smaller, respectively, than for the evolved f amilies observed today; and that satellites form frequently around family m embers.