Spectroscopic observations of Jupiter Trojans

We present the results of a campaign of spectroscopic observations of Jupiter Trojan asteroids. Thirty-four objects were observed during three runs in July and November 1999, and March 2002 using the Danish 1.54-m telescope at ESO. The covered spectral range was between 5000 and 9000 A. Our observations include objects belonging both L-4 to L-5 clouds. According to analyses of previous investigations of Trojans, the spectra of different taxonomic classes can be separated on the basis of the slope of the reflectance spectrum. The large majority of the objects of our sample have been found to belong to the D taxonomic class, but we found also objects of P- and C-type. In two cases, we found also evidence of blueish spectral trends. Our data are important, since they allow us to substantially enlarge the whole data set of available Trojan spectra. (C) 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.