Mathematics – Probability
Scientific paper
Jun 1993
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1993natur.363..704r&link_type=abstract
Nature (ISSN 0028-0836), vol. 363, no. 6431, p. 704-706.
Mathematics
Probability
73
Asteroid Belts, Earth-Moon System, Orbital Elements, Earth Orbits, Probability Distribution Functions, Asteroids, Neas, Near Earth Asteroids, Asteroid Belt, Position (Location), Earth-Based Observations, Distribution, Orbits, Eccentricity, Inclination, Orbital Elements, Data, Catalog, Analysis, Simulation, Procedure, Color, Comparison, Physical Properties, Magnitude, Ccd Methods, Description, Origin, Source, Earth Crossers, Size
Scientific paper
In January 1991, the 0.9-m Spacewatch telescope made the first observation of an asteroid outside Earth's atmosphere but in the neighborhood of the Earth-moon system. Since then, more than 40 Earth-approaching asteroids have been discovered, including 13 smaller than 50 m. Using these data, one of us has shown that there is an excess of Earth-approaching asteroids with diameters less than 50 m, relative to the population inferred from the distribution of larger objects. Here we argue that these smaller objects - characterized by low eccentricities, widely ranging inclinations and unusual spectral properties - form a previously undetected asteroid belt concentrated near Earth. The recent discovery of additional small Earth-approaching asteroids supports this conclusion.
Gehrels Tom
Howell Ellen S.
Larson Stefan M.
McMillan Robert S.
Mueller Beatrice E. A.
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