  Echelle spectra of 10 bright asteroids are presented and compared against an
observed twilight spectrum and a computed Solar spectrum. Spectra covering a
2130 A spectral range centered on 5785 A are of high resolving power and high
signal to noise ratio. So we focus on a comparison of detailed properties of
spectral lines and not on albedo variations. It is shown that the normalized
Solar and asteroid spectra are identical except for radial velocity (RV) shifts
which can be predicted at the accuracy level of 1 m/s. So asteroids are
proposed as new and extremely accurate radial velocity standards. Predicted and
measured RVs of observed asteroids indeed match within limits of accuracy of
the instrument. There are numerous absorption lines in the reflected Solar
spectrum. This allows a direct mapping of the resolving power of a spectrograph
between and along echelle spectral orders. So asteroid spectra can be used to
test wavelength calibration and resolving power of spectrographs on the ground
as well as in space, including the Gaia mission of ESA. All spectra are also
given in an electronic form.
