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Definitive orbit of minor planet (29) Amphitrite from 91 oppositions 1825‐‐1985 and a new determination of the mass of Jupiter
Author(s) -
Schmadel L. D.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
astronomische nachrichten
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.394
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1521-3994
pISSN - 0004-6337
DOI - 10.1002/asna.2113070604
Subject(s) - jupiter (rocket family) , asteroid , physics , astrometry , astronomy , solar system , spacecraft , astrobiology , centaur , orbit (dynamics) , minor planet , planet , satellite , ephemeris , aerospace engineering , stars , engineering
Minor planet (29) Amphitrite will serve as a target for the first asteroid flyby with NASA spacecraft Galileo on December 6, 1986. It also represents a first priority object for solar system observations with the ESA astrometry satellite Hipparcos which is scheduled to be launched in 1988. In order to meet the high astrometric accuracy requirements, a definitive orbit based on 1,577 observations from 91 apparitions covering the time span 1825 to 1985 is evaluated. (29) Amphitrite moves near to the 3:1 resonance to Jupiter and seems particularly suited for a new determination of the mass of the Jupiter system. A most probable mass value of 1/(1047.369±0.029) solar masses is obtained and the relaibility of this result is discussed.