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[12.06] Earth-approaching Asteroid Streams from the D-criteria

J. D. Drummond (Starfire Optical Range USAF)

Using the Southworth-Hawkins D-discriminant as a measure of orbital similarity, and applying three kinds of distribution analyses to the 449 Earth-approaching asteroids known at the end of 1997, 7 Associations, 4 Strings, and 2 Pairs are found which stand out from the local background of orbits. These asteroid streams undoubtedly contribute to the meteorite flux. The Associations have 4-9 members and the Strings have 3 or 4. Two Pairs have very similar orbits and may be separated binary asteroids: Camillo and 1996 FO3; and Adonis and 1995 CS.