Stability in the Full Two-Body Problem

Stability conditions are established in the problem of two gravitationally interacting rigid bodies, designated here as the full two-body problem. The stability conditions are derived using basic principles from the N-body problem which can be carried over to the full two-body problem. Sufficient conditions for Hill stability and instability, and for stability against impact are derived. The analysis is applicable to binary small-body systems such as have been found recently for asteroids and Kuiper belt objects.