Dynamics of asteroids and near-Earth objects from Gaia Astrometry

Abstract

Gaia is an astrometric mission that will be launched in spring 2013. There are many scientific outcomes from this mission and as far as our Solar System is concerned, the satellite will be able to map thousands of main belt asteroids (MBAs) and near-Earth objects (NEOs) down to magnitude < 20. The high precision astrometry (0.3-5 mas of accuracy) will allow orbital improvement, mass determination, and a better accuracy in the prediction and ephemerides of potentially hazardous asteroids (PHAs). We give in this paper some simulation tests to analyse the impact of Gaia data on known asteroids' orbit, and their value for the analysis of NEOs through the example of asteroid (99942) Apophis. We then present the need for a follow-up network for newly discovered asteroids by Gaia, insisting on the synergy of ground and space data for the orbital improvement.

arXiv commentAccepted for publication in Planetary and Space Science in Dec. 2012

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Cited by in corpus (6)

• Data Release 3: the Solar System survey
• Statistical and Numerical Study of Asteroid Orbital Uncertainty
• The astrometric Gaia-FUN-SSO observation campaign of 99 942 Apophis
• Potential asteroid discoveries by the ESA Gaia mission: Results from follow-up observations
• Constraining multiple systems with GAIA
• Near-Earth asteroids orbit propagation with Gaia observations