Dynamics of Two Planets in the 3/2 Mean-motion Resonance: Application to the Planetary System of the Pulsar PSR B1257+12

This paper considers the dynamics of two planets, as the planets B and C of the pulsar PSR B1257+12, near a 3/2 mean-motion resonance. A two-degrees-of-freedom model, in the framework of the general three-body planar problem, is used and the solutions are analyzed through surfaces of section and Fourier techniques in the full phase space of the system.On the possibility of existence of a fourth planet in distant orbit, see Wolszczan et al., 2000     

Origin and thermal evolution of icy satellites

The paper reviews the problem of formation and evolution of the so-called regular satellites of the giant planets, and it consists of two parts: the first describes the possible origin of the satellites, the second studies their evolution, attempting to stress the relations of the present status of the satellites with their evolutionary history.The formation of regular satellite systems around giant planets is probably related to the formation of the central planet. Some characteristics of regular satellite systems are quite similar, and suggest a common origin in a disk present around the central body. This disk can originate through different mechanisms which we will describe, paying attention to the so-called accretion disk model, in which the satellite-forming material is captured. The disk phase links the formation of the primary body with the formation of satellites. The subsequent stages of the disk's evolution can lead first to the formation of intermediate size bodies, and through the collisional evolution of these bodies, to the birth of satellite embryos able to gravitationally capture smaller bodies.Given the scenario in which icy satellites may be formed by homogeneous accretion of planetesimals made of a mixtures of ice and silicates, if no melting occurs during accretion, the satellites have a homogeneous ice-rock composition. For the smaller satellites this homogeneous structure should not be substantially modified; only sporadic local events, such as large impacts, can modify the surface structure of the smaller satellites. For the larger satellites, if some degree of melting appears during accretion, a differentiation of the silicate part occurs, the amount of differentiation and hence the core size depending on the fraction of gravitational potential energy retained during the accumulation process. Melting and differentiation soon after the accretion, for the larger satellites, could also depend on the convective evolution in presence of phase transitions and generate an intermediate rock layer, considerably denser than the underlying, still homogeneous core, and unstable to overturning on a geologic time scale. Moreover the liquid water mantle could be a transient feature because the mantle would freeze over several hundred million years. For these large bodies the stable configuration is expected to be one consisting of a silicate core and a mantle of mixed rock and ice.     

On the discovery of the Apollo object 1987SB

Am 22. September 1987 wurde am Bulgarischen National Observatorium von ELST, IVANOVA und SHKODROV (1987) ein schnell bewegliches Objekt 17. Größe entdeckt. Durch internationale Zusammenarbeit konnte der Apollotyp-Asteroid 1987SB bis zum 15. Januar 1988 verfolgt werden.     

Die Entdeckung eines neuen Asteroiden (1988BJ) vom “Hungaria”-Typ

During an observational program of asteroids at the observatory of Haute Provence (France) an asteroid of 17^th magnitude was discovered on 22^nd January 1988 (Elst 1988). Further observations at the European Southern Observatory (ESO) and a preliminary determination of an orbit revealed that it belongs to the “Hungaria” family.     

Beobachtungen Kleiner Planeten. XII

Es wird eine Übersicht gegeben über die im Jahr 1991 auf Tautenburger Schmidtplatten gefundenen Kleinen Planeten. Es wurden 533 Objekte beobachtet und für diese 2066 Positionen gerechnet. Es handelt sich um 456 Planetoiden mit provisorischer Bezeichnung, unter denen 324 neu vergebene Bezeichnungen sind, sowie um 77 numerierte Objekte. Für Tautenburger Objekte wurden 250 Bahnen aus einer Opposition gerechnet. Für 54 im Berichtszeitraum numerierte Planeten, darunter befinden sich auch (4999) MPC und (5000) IAU, haben Tautenburger Positionen einen Beitrag geleistet. Neun Tautenburger Planetoiden wurden numeriert (Tab. 3). A summary is given about the Minor Planet survey performed in 1991 on Tautenburg Schmidt plates. 533 asteroids were observed and 2066 positions are calculated for them. These are 456 asteroids with provisional designations (324 of them have new designations) and 77 numbered objects. One-opposition orbits have been computed for 250 Teutenburg asteroids. Tautenburg observations could give a tribute to 54 planets numbered in the period of this report, among them are (4999) MPC and (5000) IAU, too. Nine Tautenburg asteroids have been numbered (Tab. 3).     

Flora小行星族自转特性研究

小行星族作为灾变碰撞的残留物,其基础物理性质提供了其母体以及后续演化信息.其中轨道以及自转特性分别反映了Yarkovsky效应以及Yarkovsky-O’Keefe-Radzievskii-Paddack效应(YORP效应)对于小行星族演化的影响.基于小行星光变数据库(Asteroid Lightcurve Database),通过对Flora小行星族自转速率分布进行研究,发现随着直径减小,族成员自转速率倾向于主要集中在3–5 d^-1的范围内.同时,可以注意到Flora小行星族整体表现出更倾向于顺行自转状态的现象,但对于轨道半长轴小于2.2au的成员来说,其顺行自转与逆行自转状态成员数目比接近于近地小行星中顺逆行自转状态源1:3的比例;此外,对于轨道半长轴大于2.2 au且具有顺行自转状态的部分族成员,在轨道半长轴-绝对星等分布中表现出聚集现象,并在聚集区域中有9颗成员展现出类似Slivan状态特征.     

Photometric Follow-up Transit (Primary Eclipse) Observations of WASP-43 b and TrES-3b and A Study on Their Transit Timing Variations

Two photometric follow-up transit (primary eclipse) observations on WASP-43 b and four observations on TrES-3 b are performed using the Xuyi Near-Earth Object Survey Telescope. After differential photometry and light curve analysis, the physical parameters of the two systems are obtained and are in good match with the literature. Combining with transit data from a lot of literature, the residuals (O ? C) of transit observations of both systems are fitted with the linear and quadratic functions. With the linear fitting, the periods and transit timing variations (TTVs) of the planets are obtained, and no obvious periodic TTV signal is found in both systems after an analysis. The maximum mass of a perturbing planet located at the 1:2 mean motion resonance (MMR) for WASP-43 b and TrES-3 b is estimated to be 1.826 and 1.504 Earth mass, respectively. By quadratic fitting, it is confirmed that WASP-43 b may have a long-term TTV which means an orbital decay. The decay rate is shown to be P? = (?0.005248 ± 0.001714) s·yr^?1, and compared with the previous results. Based on this, the lower limit of the stellar tidal quality parameter of WASP-43 is calculated to be ${Q^{\prime }}_{*}\ge 1.5\times {10}^5$, and the remaining lifetimes of the planets are presented for the different ${Q^{\prime }}_{*}$ values of the two systems, correspondingly.     

Low-energy Lunar Trajectories with Lunar Flybystwo

The low-energy lunar trajectories with lunar flybys are investigated based on the Sun-Earth-Moon bicircular problem (BCP). The characteristics of the distribution of trajectories in the phase space are summarized. Using the invariant manifolds in the BCP system, the low-energy lunar trajectories with lunar flybys are sought. Then, take time as an augmented dimension in the phase space of a nonautonomous system, we present the state space map and reveal the distribution of these lunar trajectories in the phase space. Consequently, we find that the low-energy lunar trajectories exist as families, and that the every moment in the Sun-Earth-Moon synodic period can be the departure date. Finally, we analyse the velocity increment, transfer duration, and system energy for the different trajectory families, and obtain the velocity-impulse optimal family and the transfer-duration optimal family, respectively.     

Gravito-electrodynamics and the structure of planetary ring systems

Recent spacecraft observations of the Saturnian and Jovian ring systems have highlighted a plethora of interesting new phenomena associated with those regions containing fine (micron and sub-micron sized) dust. Recognizing that these dust grains, by virtue of being immersed within the planetary magnetospheres, are electrostatically charged to the point that they experience comparable gravitational and electric forces, a new “gravito-electrodynamic” theory has been developed to describe their dynamics. This theory has been successful in explaining all these phenomena in a systematic way. In this review, the basic model and its range of validity are outlined, and its application to the Saturnian and Jovian ring systems are discussed.     

Eliminating Virtual Impactors with the Very Large Telescope: An ESO Program with the FORS2 Camera

We have used the ESO Very Large Telescope (VLT) to perform as trometric observations of Near Earth Asteroids (NEAs) having remote collision possibilities with the Earth. The observations were made for those objects which became too faint to be observed elsewhere. Using the 4 hours allocated in the semester April–September 2003, 5 faint NEAs were observed. As a result, no NEA that could impact the Earth was lost.