Rummaging through Earth's Attic for Remains of Ancient Life

We explore the likelihood that early remains of Earth, Mars, and Venus have been preserved on the Moon in high enough concentrations to motivate a search mission. During the Late Heavy Bombardment, the inner planets experienced frequent large impacts. Material ejected by these impacts near the escape velocity would have had the potential to land and be preserved on the surface of the Moon. Such ejecta could yield information on the geochemical and biological state of early Earth, Mars, and Venus. To determine whether the Moon has preserved enough ejecta to justify a search mission, we calculate the amount of terran material incident on the Moon over its history by considering the distribution of ejecta launched from the Earth by large impacts. In addition, we make analogous estimates for Mars and Venus. We find, for a well-mixed regolith, that the median surface abundance of terran material is roughly 7 ppm, corresponding to a mass of approximately 20,000 kg of terran material over a 10×10-square-km area. Over the same area, the amount of material transferred from Venus is 1-30 kg and material from Mars as much as 180 kg. Given that the amount of terran material is substantial, we estimate the fraction of this material surviving impact with intact geochemical and biological tracers.     

A stability study of Kuiper Belt binaries

The dynamical structure of the orbital element space of seven Kuiper Belt binary systems is studied by numerical methods in the model of the spatial elliptic restricted three‐body problem. It is shown that three systems have an extended region of stability where additional satellites could exist. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Asteroid 2002NY40 as a source of meteorite-dropping bolides

The existence of asteroidal meteoroid streams capable of producing meteorite-dropping bolides has long being invoked, but evidence is scarce. Recent modelling of previously reported associations suggests that the time-scales to keep the orbital coherence of these streams producing meteorites are too short. We present an unequivocal association between near earth object (NEO) 2002NY40 and at least one bright fireball detected over Finland in 2006 August. Another two additional fireballs recorded from Spain and Finland seem to be related, together producing a fireball-producing stream (β Aquarids). On the basis of historical data, the 2006 finding suggests the existence of a meteoroid complex capable of producing meteorites. Taking into account present time-scales for orbital decoherence, if 2002NY40 has large meteoroids associated with it, such behaviour would be the consequence of a relatively recent asteroidal fragmentation. Supporting our claim, the heliocentric orbits of two recently discovered NEOs, 2004NL8 and 2002NY40, were found to exhibit a good similarity to each other and also to the orbits of the three bolides. The fireball spectra of the two Finish bolides showed that the chemical abundances of these objects are consistent with the main elements found in chondrites. This result is consistent with the probable Low iron, Low metal (LL) chondritic mineralogy of asteroid 2002NY40. Consequently, this asteroid may be delivering LL chondrites to the Earth. Additional fireball reports found in the literature suggest that the associated β Aquarid complex may have been delivering meteorites to the Earth during, at least, the last millennium.     

对金斯定则的几点认识

用物理学基本定律可导出金斯经验定则,它似应称为金斯定则,该定则的速度、高度或能量等表述完全等效,可随意选用,用能量观点更容易解释此定则,满足金斯定则只是给定的粒子成为具有稠密大气的行星或卫星的主要大气成分的必要条件,该定则的适应范围可用方程或其图像表示,也能用诺模图确定,它适用于太阳系内的行星,卫星,小行星,流星体和像柯伊伯带天体与半人马族星这样的外太阳系天体,此定则现在仍有普遍的现实意义。     

塔河油田下古生界溶洞充填巨晶方解石流体来源分析

塔河油田溶洞巨晶方解石充填物的微量元素、碳、氧、锶同位素地球化学和流体包裹体的对比研究表明,不同井位巨晶方解石可能来源于不同的流体体系。T417井和S76井鹰山组、T904井一间房组及TS1井丘里塔格组溶洞巨晶方解石样品具有富U、高V/Cr特征,且均一温度主要分布于148.9～169.9℃,相对围岩所经历最高温度约20℃,反映为还原性的热液流体体系,该流体具有高~(87)Sr/~(86)Sr及低δ~(18)O的特征。T904井良里塔格组巨晶方解石具有贫U、低V/Cr及均一温度较低的特征(75～81℃),反映为富氧低温流体体系,结合样品的高~(87)Sr/~(86)Sr及低δ~(18)O特征,可以推测该低温流体可能为大气水来源。热液流体与大气淡水的运移受断层、裂缝和不整合面等因素控制,从而使得不同井位、层位的巨晶方解石沉淀时具有不同的流体成分与温度特征。     

月球探测中转移轨道误差分析和中途修正计算

针对返回型月球探测器,基于月球探测中转移轨道的动力学特征和误差传递矩阵的性质,分别对地月转移轨道和月地转移轨道的误差传递特点进行了研究,并根据误差传递矩阵给出估算第1次中途轨道修正速度增量的线性公式.通过具体算例,给出在实际力学模型下月球探测中转移轨道误差传递性质,讨论了目标点和目标轨道两种不同的轨道修正方法的特点和适用情形,并结合再入约束条件对月地转移轨道第2次中途修正进行了分析和计算.     

On the relationship of long-period comets to known and unknown planets

Statistical aspects of the question of the dynamical relationship of long-period comets to giant planets (Saturn, Uranus, Neptune), dwarf planets (Pluto, 2003 EL₆₁, 2003 UB₃₁₃), and five hypothetical planets are investigated. Data for 859 and 888 comets (2005, 2006) with periods P > 200 years are used in the statistics. No comets of the Kreutz, Marsden, Kracht, and Meyer groups are considered. The minimum interorbital distances of comets from the listed planetary bodies are mainly analyzed. Effects testifying to the kinematical relationship of some of the comets to planets have been established by testing the cometary data relative to 67 planes. The distribution of the perihelia of long-period comets is also discussed.     

Asteroids on Earth-like orbits and their origin

The orbit of 1991 VG and a set of other asteroids whose orbits are very similar to that of the Earth have been examined. Its origin has been speculated to be a returning spacecraft, lunar ejecta or a low-inclination Amor- or Apollo-class object. The latter is arguably the more likely source, which has been investigated here. The impact probability for these objects has been calculated, and while it is larger than that of a typical near-Earth asteroid (NEA), it is still less than 1:200 000 over the next 5000 yr. In addition, the probability of an NEA ever ending up on an Earth-like orbit has been obtained from numerical simulations and turned out to be about 1:20 000, making this a rare class of objects. The typical time spent in this state is about 10 000 yr, much less than the typical NEA lifetime of 10 Myr.