Formation of asteroid satellites and doublet craters by planetary tidal forces
Article Abstract:
The tidal forces generated by close encounters between planets and asteroids can produce binary asteroid satellites that strike the planets to form the doublet craters, which are seen on Earth and Venus. Modeling the impact encounters between binary asteroids and the Earth, using a fifth-order Runge-Kutta numerical integrator, gives the fraction of the satellites that form doublet craters. Almost 15% of the kilometer-sized Earth-crossing asteroids probably have associated satellites. This constant number of asteroids account for the large number of doublet craters that are seen on Earth.
Publication Name: Nature
Subject: Zoology and wildlife conservation
ISSN: 0028-0836
Year: 1996
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Compaction as the origin of the unusual craters on the asteroid Mathilde
Article Abstract:
It is possible that the giant craters on the asteroid Mathilde were formed mainly by compaction, rather than excavation. It appears that the traditional strength- and gravity-dominated regimes of impact cratering are not applicable to porous asteroids. Instead, crater size is determined by pore compaction from the outgoing pressure shock. As a result, the impact-driven evolution of porous asteroids could be wholly different from that of denser, rocky objects.
Publication Name: Nature
Subject: Zoology and wildlife conservation
ISSN: 0028-0836
Year: 1999
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Possible long-lived asteroid belts in the inner Solar System
Article Abstract:
Several objects in stable orbits in the outer Solar system have been discovered in recent years, included objects in the Kuiper belt. Evidence of zones of orbital stability in the inner Solar System is reported, and two possible long-lived belts of asteroids have been found. The first area is between the Sun and Mercury in the range 0.09-0.21 and the second area is between Earth and Mars in the range 1.08-1.28.
Publication Name: Nature
Subject: Zoology and wildlife conservation
ISSN: 0028-0836
Year: 1999
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