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Origin of multikilometer earth- and mars-crossing asteroids: A quantitative simulation
Migliorini1, Michel, Morbidelli
1F. Migliorini, Armagh Observatory, College Hill BT61 9DG, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom, and Osservatorio Astronomico di Torino, I-10025 Pino Torinese, Italy. P. Michel, Osservatorio Astronomico di Torino, I-10025 Pino Torinese, Italy, and Obse.
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|September 25, 1998
Summary
Weak resonances slowly push main belt asteroids into Mars-crossing orbits. Many then become Earth-crossing asteroids, explaining observed populations.
Area of Science:
- Planetary Science
- Orbital Dynamics
- Asteroid Research
Background:
- Asteroid populations in the main belt and near-Earth space are of significant interest.
- Understanding the dynamical pathways of asteroids is crucial for impact hazard assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the dynamical mechanisms driving asteroids from the main belt to Mars-crossing and Earth-crossing orbits.
- To quantitatively explain the observed numbers of Mars-crossing asteroids (MCAs) and Earth-crossing asteroids (ECAs).
Main Methods:
- Utilized orbital dynamic simulations.
- Analyzed the effects of weak mean motion resonances on asteroid orbital elements.
- Tracked asteroid transitions from the main belt to Mars-crossing and Earth-crossing trajectories.
Main Results:
- Numerous weak mean motion resonances gradually increase asteroid orbital ellipticity.
- Asteroids are efficiently driven from the main belt to Mars-crossing orbits.
- Approximately 50% of Mars-crossing asteroids transition to Earth-crossing orbits within 20 million years.
Conclusions:
- The simulated orbital evolution quantitatively explains the observed populations of large Earth-crossing and Mars-crossing asteroids.
- Weak resonances play a critical role in populating near-Earth space with asteroids originating from the main belt.