A Minor Planet Synchronized to Earth

Session 33 - Comets & Asteroids.
Oral session, Wednesday, January 07
Jefferson,

[33.06] A Minor Planet Synchronized to Earth

S. J. Goldstein Jr (U. Virginia)

A 1400-year integration of minor planet 1989UQ with the earth and sun shows that it is synchronized to earth, with eight of its sidereal periods equal to seven sidereal years. The earth and the minor planet share orbital energy to maintain this ratio exactly. The minor planet librates about an equilibrium position with a mean amplitude of 8.2 degrees and a period of 159 years.

Program listing for Wednesday