Open AccessTransient Terrestrial Trojans: Comparative Short-term Dynamical Evolution of 2010 TK7 and 2020 XL5
Author(s) -
C. de la Fuente Marcos,
R. de la Fuente Marcos
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
research notes of the aas
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2515-5172
DOI - 10.3847/2515-5172/abe6ad
Subject(s) - trojan , orbit (dynamics) , transient (computer programming) , physics , jupiter (rocket family) , population , asteroid , planet , term (time) , mars exploration program , astronomy , astrobiology , astrophysics , aerospace engineering , spacecraft , computer science , engineering , medicine , environmental health , operating system
The Trojan asteroids of Mars and Jupiter are long-term stable, those of Earth are expected to be just transient companions. The first Trojan of our planet, 2010 TK 7 , was discovered in 2010 and its resonant state was found to be transient. Here, we provide a preliminary assessment of the current dynamical status and short-term orbital evolution of 2020 XL 5 , a recently discovered near-Earth asteroid that might be the second known representative of this elusive population. Our calculations show that the current orbit determination of 2010 TK 7 is consistent with that of a robust, present-day, yet transient, L 4 Earth Trojan. In sharp contrast, the current orbit determination of 2020 XL 5 is still too uncertain and its orbital evolution too chaotic to confirm a current Trojan engagement with Earth, although the nominal orbit shows such a behavior. More observations are required to provide a conclusive answer.