The near-Earth asteroid ( NEA ) ( 175706 ) 1996 FG _ { 3 } is a particularly interesting spacecraft target : a binary asteroid with a low- \Delta v heliocentric orbit .
The orbit of its satellite has provided valuable information about its mass density while its albedo and colors suggest it is primitive or part of the C-complex taxonomic grouping .
We extend the physical characterization of this object with new observations of its emission at mid-Infrared ( IR ) wavelengths and with near-IR reflection spectroscopy .
We derive an area-equivalent system diameter of 1.90 \pm \unit { 0.28 } { \kilo \metre } ( corresponding to approximate component diameters of \unit 1.83 \kilo \metre and \unit 0.51 \kilo \metre , respectively ) and a geometric albedo of 0.039 \pm 0.012 .
( 175706 ) 1996 FG _ { 3 } was previously classified as a C-type asteroid , though the combined 0.4–2.5 µm spectrum with thermal correction indicates classification as B-type ; both are consistent with the low measured albedo .
Dynamical studies show that ( 175706 ) 1996 FG _ { 3 } has most probably originated in the inner main asteroid belt .
Recent work has suggested the inner Main Belt ( 142 ) Polana family as the possible origin of another low- \Delta v B-type NEA , ( 101955 ) 1999 RQ _ { 36 } .
A similar origin for ( 175706 ) 1996 FG _ { 3 } would require delivery by the overlapping Jupiter 7:2 and Mars 5:9 mean motion resonances rather than the \nu _ { 6 } , and we find this to be a low probability , but possible , origin .