Transient co-orbital asteroids

R. Brasser, K. A. Innanen, M. Connors, C. Veillet, P. Wiegert, Seppo Mikkola, P. W. Chodas

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal Articlepeer-review

72 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We analyze the orbital behavior of four new co-orbital NEOs and the Earth horseshoe object 2002 AA29. The new objects are 2001 CK32, a 3753 Cruithne -like co-orbital of Venus, 2001 GO2 and 2003 YN107, two objects with motion similar to 2002 AA29. 2001 CK32 is on a compound orbit. The asteroid reverses its path when the mean longitude difference is -50°. Its motion is chaotic. 2001 GO2 is an Earth HS orbiter with repeated transitions to the QS phase, the next occurring 200 years from now. The HS libration period is 190 years and the QS phases last 45 years. For 2002 AA29, our simulations permit us to find useful theoretical insights into the HS-QS transitions. Its orbit can be simulated with adequate accuracy for 4400 years into the future and 1483 years into the past. The new co-orbital 2003 YN107 is at present an Earth QS. It has entered this phase in 1997 and will leave it again in 2006, completing one QS cycle. Like 2002 AA29, it has frequent transitions between HS and QS. One HS cycle takes 133 years.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)102-109
Number of pages8
JournalIcarus
Volume171
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sep. 2004

Keywords

  • Asteroid
  • Dynamics
  • Earth

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