Constraining the orbits of small solar system bodies using spectroscopic Doppler shift measurements – a preliminary study

In this short paper we examine whether the measurement of Doppler shifts in the solar light reflected off an asteroid surface may improve the accuracy of the determined orbit. Our results suggest it will be worthwhile to use high‐resolution spectrographs, of the exoplanet‐hunting type, to measure those Doppler shifts. Spectroscopic Doppler shifts might improve the accuracy of Earth‐impact predictions, help to recover “lost” near‐Earth objects, and may also significantly enhance the knowledge about dynamics of the Kuiper belt. Future high‐resolution spectrographs on the VLT and the E‐ELT may thus have an important role in studies of Solar‐System dynamics and kinematics. (© 2015 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)