Detecting Earth’s temporarily-captured natural satellites—Minimoons

Bolin, Bryce; Jedicke, Robert; Granvik, Mikael; Brown, Peter; Howell, E. S.; Nolan, M. C.; Jenniskens, Peter; Chyba, Monique; Patterson, Geoff; Wainscoat, R. J.

doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2014.05.026

Cited by 45 publications

(48 citation statements)

References 62 publications

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“…One source for the discrepancy is due to the updated steady-state estimate from Fedorets et al (2017) compared to Granvik et al (2012), where the number of TCOs is increased by 10%. Here we also consider a detailed survey simulation whereas Bolin et al (2014) derived their estimates using average TCO properties as well as simplified cadence and performance characteristics for the LSST. Hence it has always been clear that the prediction by Bolin et al (2014) provides an upper limit for the number of expected TCO discoveries and more accurate simulations will decrease that number.…”

Section: Baseline Survey Performancementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Hence it has always been clear that the prediction by Bolin et al (2014) provides an upper limit for the number of expected TCO discoveries and more accurate simulations will decrease that number. Our results are in line with predictions by Bolin et al (2014) when considering the number of objects with three or more observations.…”

Section: Baseline Survey Performancementioning

confidence: 99%

“…This constraint needs to be taken into account when planning follow-up strategies and space missions to TCOs. Bolin et al (2014) proposed that orbit determination would improve due to parallax and differences in velocities derived from tracklets. Our calculations show that single-night data sets are not sufficient for the identification of geocentric objects with 100% certainty.…”

Section: Increasing the Tco Discovery Ratementioning

confidence: 99%

“…The green line represents the period during which the object is captured as a TCO whereas the red line represents the time evolution of the parameters when the object is not captured. Bolin et al (2014) investigated various options for discovering TCOs with current and upcoming facilities. Out of the instruments available in 2019, the HyperSuprimeCam at the Subaru Telescope was deemed the best solution.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Discovering Earth’s transient moons with the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope

Fedorets

Granvik

Jones

et al. 2020

Icarus

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Earth's temporarily-captured orbiters (TCOs) are a sub-population of near-Earth objects (NEOs). TCOs can provide constraints for NEO population models in the 1-10-metre-diameter range, and they are outstanding targets for in situ exploration of asteroids due to a low requirement on ∆v. So far there has only been a single serendipitous discovery of a TCO. Here we assess in detail the possibility of their discovery with the upcoming Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST), previously identified as the primary facility for such discoveries. We simulated observations of TCOs by combining a synthetic TCO population with an LSST survey simulation. We then assessed the detection rates, detection linking and orbit computation, and sources for confusion. Typical velocities of detectable TCOs will range from 1˝/day to 50˝/day, and typical apparent V magnitudes from 21 to 23. Potentially-hazardous asteroids have observational characteristics similar to TCOs, but the two populations can be distinguished based on their orbits with LSST data alone. We predict that a TCO can be discovered once every year with the baseline moving-object processing system (MOPS). The rate can be increased to one TCO discovery every two months if tools complementary to the baseline MOPS are developed for the specific purpose of discovering these objects.

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Section: Baseline Survey Performancementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Baseline Survey Performancementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Increasing the Tco Discovery Ratementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Discovering Earth’s transient moons with the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope

Fedorets

Granvik

Jones

et al. 2020

Icarus

Self Cite

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“…The existence of short-lived natural satellites of the Earth was first discussed by Baker (1958) but actual objects were found only recently (Kwiatkowski et al 2009;Granvik et al 2012). Plans to perform a systematic search for these so called minimoons using the Arecibo and Greenbank radio telescopes are under way (Bolin et al 2014).…”

Section: Encountering the Earth At Low Velocitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Geometric characterization of the Arjuna orbital domain

Marcos

2015

Astron Nachr

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Arjuna-type orbits are characterized by being Earth-like, having both low-eccentricity and low-inclination. Objects following these trajectories experience repeated trappings in the 1:1 commensurability with the Earth and can become temporary Trojans, horseshoe librators, quasi-satellites, and even transient natural satellites. Here, we review what we know about this peculiar dynamical group and use a Monte Carlo simulation to characterize geometrically the Arjuna orbital domain, studying its visibility both from the ground and with the European Space Agency Gaia spacecraft. The visibility analysis from the ground together with the discovery circumstances of known objects are used as proxies to estimate the current size of this population. The impact cross-section of the Earth for minor bodies in this resonant group is also investigated. We find that, for ground-based observations, the solar elongation at perigee of nearly half of these objects is less than 90 • . They are best observed by space-borne telescopes, but Gaia is not going to improve significantly the current discovery rate for members of this class. Our results suggest that the size of this population may have been underestimated by current models. On the other hand, their intrinsically low encounter velocities with the Earth induce a 10-1000-fold increase in the impact cross-section with respect to what is typical for objects in the Apollo or Aten asteroid populations. We estimate that their probability of capture as transient natural satellites of our planet is about 8 %.

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Recent Advances in Celestial and Space Mechanics

Bonnard

Chyba

2016

Mathematics for Industry

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International audienceThis book presents recent advances in space and celestial mechanics, with a focus on the N-body problem and astrodynamics, and explores the development and application of computational techniques in both areas. It highlights the design of space transfers with various modes of propulsion, like solar sailing and low-thrust transfers between libration point orbits, as well as a broad range of targets and applications, like rendezvous with near Earth objects. Additionally, it includes contributions on the non-integrability properties of the collinear three- and four-body problem, and on general conditions for the existence of stable, minimum energy configurations in the full N-body problem. A valuable resource for physicists and mathematicians with research interests in celestial mechanics, astrodynamics and optimal control as applied to space transfers, as well as for professionals and companies in the industry

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Detecting Earth’s temporarily-captured natural satellites—Minimoons

Cited by 45 publications

References 62 publications

Discovering Earth’s transient moons with the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope

Discovering Earth’s transient moons with the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope

Geometric characterization of the Arjuna orbital domain

Recent Advances in Celestial and Space Mechanics

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