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A retrograde co-orbital asteroid of Jupiter
Paul Wiegert1,2, Martin Connors1,2,3,4,5, Christian Veillet6
1Department of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A 3K7, Canada.
Nature
|March 31, 2017
Summary
Retrograde co-orbital asteroid 2015 BZ509 stably orbits with Jupiter. This discovery suggests such unique celestial bodies, moving against planetary orbits, may be more common than previously thought.
Area of Science:
- Celestial mechanics
- Planetary science
- Asteroid dynamics
Background:
- Theoretical work suggests stable retrograde co-orbital asteroids are possible.
- Asteroid 2015 BZ509's initial orbital data was too uncertain to confirm its co-orbital status.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if asteroid 2015 BZ509 is a retrograde co-orbital asteroid of Jupiter.
- To analyze the stability and origin of asteroid 2015 BZ509's orbit.
Main Methods:
- Orbital observations of asteroid 2015 BZ509.
- Dynamical analysis of its long-term stability and orbital resonance.
- Comparison with theoretical models of asteroid capture and evolution.
Main Results:
- Asteroid 2015 BZ509 is confirmed as a retrograde co-orbital asteroid of Jupiter.
- It has maintained its resonant state for approximately one million years.
- Its origin may involve a past interaction with Saturn, possibly as a Halley-family comet.
Conclusions:
- Retrograde co-orbital asteroids can achieve long-term stability.
- Asteroid 2015 BZ509 provides observational evidence for these theoretical predictions.
- Such asteroids might be more prevalent in planetary systems than currently recognized.
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