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[7P.14] Asteroid-Asteroid Close Approaches

A.B. Chamberlin (JPL/Caltech)

Using selected asteroids from JPL's asteroid and comet database and Lowell Observatory's asteroid database (Courtesy E. Bowell), a search for significant asteroid-asteroid close approaches was performed. Initial osculating elements for more than 20,000 asteroids were integrated from 1800 to 2100 using a fully perturbed (i.e. 9 planets and the moon [DE-0405] and Ceres, Pallas, Vesta) N-body model including relativistic effects. Estimated orbital uncertainties for each asteroid orbit were considered in the calculation of all close approach parameters.

A significant close approach is loosely defined for this study as one in which the smaller of the two asteroids is measurably perturbed. Using methods similar to those of Hilton et al. (1996), this work examines more than 20,000 asteroids and their orbital uncertainties. Consideration of these uncertainties in the resulting ephemerides allows for significant close approaches where nominal orbits could miss such possibilities.

Results show the details of all significant close approaches and identify those for which masses may possibly be determined.

Reference: Hilton, J.L., Seidelmann, P.K., and Middour, J. 1996. ``Prospects for Determining Asteroid Masses'', {\it AJ} {\bf 112}:2139-2329.