1984 AB—A unique Mars-crossing asteroid |
| |
| Authors: | Eleanor F Helin RScott Dunbar |
| |
| Institution: | Earth and Space Sciences Division, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91109, USA |
| |
| Abstract: | Asteroid 1984 AB, discovered in January 1984, proved to be a unique object with a close dynamical relationship to Mars. A brief history of the discovery and subsequent “evolution” of the orbit as it was refined is presented. The preliminary orbit of 1984 AB indicated that it might be a Mars Trojan, and an extended discussion of this interesting possibility is presented, but this hypothesis had to be dismissed after further observations had refined the orbit. The semimajor axis and orbital eccentricity are very similar to that of Mars. No other known Mars-crossing asteroid exists with an orbit as closely associated to Mars. |
| |
| Keywords: | To whom correspondence should be addressed: Jet Propulsion Laboratory Mail Stop 183-501 4800 Oak Grove Dr Pasadena Calif 91109 USA |
| 本文献已被 ScienceDirect 等数据库收录！ |
|
