Other
Scientific paper
Jul 1993
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1993mnras.263..179a&link_type=abstract
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (ISSN 0035-8711), vol. 263, no. 1, p. 179-190.
Other
26
Comets, Eccentric Orbits, Orbital Mechanics, Solar System, Asteroids, Jupiter (Planet), Orbit Perturbation, Asteroids, Comets, Pholus, Orbit, Evolution, Celestial Mechanics, Dynamics, Simulation, Jupiter Crossers, Timescale, Earth Crossers, Decay, Fragmentation, Apollo Asteroids, Numerical Methods, Period, Parameters, Ejection, Gravity Effects, Perturbation, Perhelion, Dynamics
Scientific paper
The large asteroid/comet 5145 Pholus in the outer solar system has an orbit which currently crosses Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. We numerically integrate 27 test particles with initial orbits similar to but distinct from the present orbit of Pholus forward over 800,000 yr. Many particles remain in the outer solar system with slow orbital evolution, and another group is accelerated into long-period orbits with perihelia still in the outer planetary region, exceedingly slow evolution then following. However, a significant fraction (5 out of 27) attain orbits crossing Jupiter's path, or at least approaching that planet, and much swifter evolution then occurs. Time-scales for substantial alterations are of the order of 10 exp 6 yr if long-period orbits are reached, 10 exp 5 yr if the objects remain in intermediate-period orbits in the outer solar system, and less than 10 exp 4 yr once Jupiter-approaching orbits are entered. Four of the particles are eventually ejected from the solar system: two by Jupiter, and two by Saturn before they ever become Jupiter-approaching. Two of the particles enter Mars- and even earth-crossing orbits for a few tens of thousands of years, and our results imply a 5-10 percent chance that an object with an orbit like Pholus may attain an earth-approaching orbit within 1 Myr.
Asher David J.
Steel D. I.
No associations
LandOfFree
Orbital evolution of the large outer solar system object 5145 Pholus does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with Orbital evolution of the large outer solar system object 5145 Pholus, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Orbital evolution of the large outer solar system object 5145 Pholus will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1073264