A simple and effective parametrisation for Earth-impacting orbits

Alexandre Payez

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arXiv · 1712.08436

A simple and effective parametrisation for Earth-impacting orbits

Alexandre Payez

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Abstract

This work presents a new parametrisation suitable for parameter-space studies of heliocentric Earth-impacting orbits. Originally motivated by the issue of potentially hazardous asteroids (PHAs) and the mitigation of such a risk, we show that the simultaneous analysis of all the conceivable impacting elliptical orbits is greatly facilitated by the use of a parametrisation that involves only the true anomaly at impact, the eccentricity and the inclination. While the new parametrisation is presented from an explicit planetary-defence perspective, it is general enough to be useful in analogous studies.

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Alexandre Payez. 2017-12-22. A simple and effective parametrisation for Earth-impacting orbits. https://arxiv.org/abs/1712.08436

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