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Interrelations Among Asteroids, Comets and Meteoroids
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 30 March 2016
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If we investigate the interrelations among different classes of small solar system bodies, we must be aware that we deal with nonrepresentative and practically noncomparable data samples consisting of bodies differing either in size, or in orbits, or in their nature. So, practically, all our knowledge about small bodies - from kilometer-sized Apollo asteroids (including Atens) and Amor asteroids (designated below as AA bodies) to fine dust particles - refer to bodies on orbits intersecting the ecliptic plane at a heliocentric distance ≃ 1 A.U. To solve the problem of origin of this ensemble it would be advantageous if analogous data could be obtained at least for one more heliocentric distance. Since planetary atmospheres are excellent detectors for small cosmic objects, the necessary data could be obtained with the aid of artificial satellites orbiting a planet, e.g. Mars or Venus. Thus the source for the ensemble of Earth-crossing objects may not be correctly pictured. Are comets or asteroids the general supplier? We know the answer to this question only in two cases: (1) meteor streams such as the Leonids originate from comets, (2) meteorites originate from asteroids. But these two categories represent a minute part of the considered ensemble by mass. As to its other members- the selection of the source is a matter of tradition rather than a logic conclusion.
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- Copyright © Reidel 1983
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