Prospects for Determining Asteroid Masses
Abstract
The orbits of 4583 main belt asteroids are integrated orbits for 57 years and searched for asteroid-asteroid encounters from which it may be possible to determine the masses of 23 of the largest asteroids (diameter ≤200 km) and 11 smaller asteroids. The search is conducted using a scattering formula which serves as a useful filter for identifying encounters that can lead to a mass determination. A total of 460 such encounters were found. The ten most useful of these encounters are examined in detail. The results show that, to make a reliable mass determination, the mean distance of the perturbed asteroid must be known to within a few times 10-8 AU. An observing program targeting the asteroids listed here would have a substantial impact on our knowledge of asteroid masses and densities.
- Publication:
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The Astronomical Journal
- Pub Date:
- November 1996
- DOI:
- 10.1086/118185
- Bibcode:
- 1996AJ....112.2319H
- Keywords:
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- MINOR PLANETS