Analyzing the structure of periodic orbit families that exist around asteroid (101955) Bennu
Speakers:Giulio Macri (Università degli Studi di Padova)
Periodic orbit families that exist around the asteroid (101955) Bennu were computed and analyzed to gain insight into the dynamical environment about the asteroid. A constant-density polyhedron model was used to generate the families. The planar direct and retrograde families, and families emanating from equilibria, were computed. Ten distinct families were identified in this set, and many of the orbit structures were similar (e.g., the vertical families emanating from the equilibria behaved in similar ways), and several of these structures were connected to each other. We identified 12 distinct families emanating from bifurcation points in the initial families. These 12 families could be classified into four types. Even though the model of Bennu had no exact symmetry, many nearly symmetric structures were identified. There were also many similarities to structures identified using simplified models like the homogeneous rotating gravitating triaxial ellipsoid. The behavior of the identified families also provided insight into the evolution of the dynamical environment around the asteroid. We expect the qualitative behavior of the families we identified to be similar to the families that would exist around other asteroids that are nearly spherical.