The absence of satellites of asteroids |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Astronomical Institute, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Fričova 1, CZ-25165 Ondřejov, Czech Republic;2. Modra Observatory, Department of Astronomy, Physics of the Earth, and Meteorology, FMPI UK, Bratislava SK-84248, Slovakia;3. Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91109, USA;4. Sugarloaf Mountain Observatory, South Deerfield, MA 01373, USA;5. Institute of Astronomy of Kharkiv National University, Sumska Str. 35, Kharkiv 61022, Ukraine;6. Sonoita Research Observatory, 77 Paint Trail, Sonoita, AZ 85637, USA;7. Department of Space Studies, Southwest Research Institute, Boulder, CO 80302, USA;8. Crimean Astrophysical Observatory, Department of Radioastronomy and Geodynamics, Simeiz 98680, Crimea;9. Physics and Astronomy Department, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC 28608, USA;10. Astronomical Institute of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, SK-05960 Tatranská Lomnica, Slovakia;11. Center for Solar System Studies, 9302 Pittsburgh Avenue, Suite 200, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730, USA;12. Shed of Science Observatory, 5213 Washburn Ave. S, Minneapolis, MN 55410, USA;13. Planetary Science Institute, Tucson, AZ 85719, USA;14. Badlands Observatory, 12 Ash Street, P.O. Box 37, Quinn, SD 57775, USA;15. Institute of Astronomy, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Charles University, Prague, V Holešovičkách 2, CZ-18000 Prague 8, Czech Republic;p. German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Planetary Research, Rutherfordstr. 2, 12489 Berlin, Germany;q. Blue Mountains Observatory, Leura, NSW, Australia;r. Belgrade Astronomical Observatory, Volgina 7, 11060 Belgrade 38, Serbia;s. Astronomical Observatory Institute, Faculty of Physics, Adam Mickiewicz University, Sloneczna 36, 60-286 Poznań, Poland;t. Hunters Hill Observatory, Ngunnawal, Canberra, Australia;u. The University of Texas at Austin, Astronomy Department/McDonald Observatory, 1 University Station C1400, Austin, TX 78712-0259, USA;v. Carl Sagan Center at the SETI Institute, 189 Bernado Av., Mountain View, CA 94043, USA;w. Department of Astronomy, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA;x. Kharadze Abastumani Astrophysical Observatory, Ilia State University, G. Tsereteli str. 3, Tbilisi 0162, Georgia;y. Crimean Astrophysical Observatory, 98409 Nauchny, Crimea;z. Campo Catino Observatory, I-03016 Guarcino, Italy;11. The Virtual Telescope Project, I-03023 Ceccano, Italy;12. IMCCE-CNRS-Observatoire de Paris, 77 avenue Denfert Rochereau, 75014 Paris, France;13. OPERA Observatory, 33820 Saint Palais, France;14. Elginfield Observatory, Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario N6A 3K7, Canada;15. Keldysh Institute of Applied Mathematics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miusskaya sq. 4, Moscow 125047, Russia;16. Physics and Astronomy Department, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA |
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| Abstract: | A CCD-imaging survey was made for satellites of minor planets at distances of about 0.1 to 7 arcmin from 1 Ceres, 2 Pallas, 4 Vesta, 6 Hebe, 7 Iris, 8 Flora, 15 Eunomia, 29 Amphitrite, 41 Daphne, and 44 Nysa, with cursory inspection of 192 Nausikaa. Satellites larger than 3 km were not found in this work, nor in previous photographic surveys. Not finding them appears to be consistent with theoretical studies of collisions in the asteroid belt by several authors. The satellites would have to be larger than at least 30 km to be collisionally stable. Tidal effects would lead to synchronous rotation and therefore long periods of rotation (several days), which are not generally observed. Taking tidal stability into account, we conclude that the only possible satellites for main-belt asteroids, with stability over eons, are near-contact binaries. The only other rare possibility for a satellite might be a piece of debris from a recent collision, and it would now be chaotic and collisionally unstable. |
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