Detection of a Trailing (L5) Neptune Trojan
2010; American Association for the Advancement of Science; Volume: 329; Issue: 5997 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1126/science.1189666
ISSN1095-9203
AutoresScott S. Sheppard, Chadwick A. Trujillo,
Tópico(s)Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies
ResumoThe orbits of small Solar System bodies record the history of our Solar System. Here, we report the detection of 2008 LC18, which is a Neptune Trojan in the trailing (L5) Lagrangian region of gravitational equilibrium within Neptune's orbit. We estimate that the leading and trailing Neptune Trojan regions have similarly sized populations and dynamics, with both regions dominated by high-inclination objects. Similar populations and dynamics at both Neptune Lagrangian regions indicate that the Trojans were likely captured by a migrating, eccentric Neptune in a dynamically excited planetesimal population.
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