Horseshoe Asteroids and Quasi-satellites in Earth-like OrbitsNewly found asteroid 2003 YN107 is the first and only known current quasi-satellite (QS) of the Earth. Asteroid 2002 AA29 is in a horseshoe orbit (HS) but has periods of QS behavior. Both asteroids closely follow Earth s orbit. 2002 AA29 has inclination i is approximately 11 degrees while for 2003 YN107 i<5 degrees, making the most Earth-like orbit known. 2003 YN107, 2002 AA29, and other Earth-resonant objects in less Earthlike orbits, form an important new class of co-orbital bodies with interesting dynamics and are the best targets for sample return missions to asteroids.
Document ID
20040062113
Acquisition Source
Johnson Space Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
M Connors (Athabasca University Athabasca, Canada)
C Veillet (Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope Corporation Kamuela, HI, United States)
R Brasser (York University Toronto, Canada)
P Wiegert (University of Western Ontario London, Ontario, Canada)
P. W. Chodas (Jet Propulsion Laboratory Pasadena, United States)
S Mikkola (Turku University Observatory Turku, Finland)
K Innanen (York University Toronto, Canada)
Date Acquired
August 21, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2004
Publication Information
Publication: Lunar and Planetary Science XXXV: Asteroids, Meteors, Comets