Revisit of rotational dynamics of Asteroid 4179 Toutatis from Chang'e-2's flyby

Abstract

Abstract. This paper presents analysis of the rotational parameters of Toutatis based on the observational results from Chang'e-2's close flyby. The 3-D shape model derived from groundbased radar observation is used to calculate the 3-1-3 Euler angles at the flyby epoch, which are evaluated to be −20.1• ±1• , 27.6• ±1• and 42.2 • ±1• . The large amplitude of Toutatis' tumbling attitude is demonstrated to be the result of the large deviation of the angular momentum axis and the rotational axis. Two rotational periods are evaluated to be 5.38 ± 0.03 days for rotation about the long axis and 7.40 ± 0.03 days for precession of the long axis about the angular momentum vector based on Fourier analysis. These results provide a further understanding of rotational state of Toutatis.