analysis of the external region of the Pluto system for different values of inclination and eccentricity of the particles

Paper number

IAC-17,C1,8,5,x36628

Author

Prof.Dr. Silvia Maria Giuliatti Winter, UNESP - Univ Estadual Paulista, Brazil

Coauthor

Mr. Daniel Gaslac, Brazil

Coauthor

Dr. Pryscilla Pires dos Santos, Univ. Federal Fluminense, Brazil

Year

2017

Abstract

Pluto and Charon form a binary system due to the large mass ratio ($\mu  = 0.12$) and the small
distance (d = 19570km) between them. Four small satellites, discovered after the launch of
the New Horizons spacecraft, are located exterior to Charon’s orbit. Styx, Nix, Kerberos
and Hydra have very small eccentricity and are all coplanar with Charon’s orbital plane. In
this work we analysed external regions for a set of particles with different values of
eccentricity and inclination. From our numerical simulations, taking into account the
gravitational effects of Pluto and its five satellites, we generate diagrams of $a$ versus $e$ and $a$
versus $I$ (where $a$ is the semi major axis, $e$ is the eccentricity and $I$ is the inclination of the
particles) after a timespan of $10^5$ orbital periods of Charon (about 650000days). The
external region was divided into three: a) region 1 between $1.5d$ to $2.5d$ - Styx and Nix are
located in this region; b) region 2 between $2.5d$ to $3.5d$ - Kerberos and Hydra are located in
this region, and c) region 3 external to Hydra’s orbit. For particles with $I \leq $90^{\circ}$,
our results show that less than $30\%$ of the initial set of particles remains in regions 2 and 3,
while in region 1 less than $5\%$ survived after 650000days. However, about $30\%$ of particles
located in region 1 survives when its $I > 90^{\circ}$. When the Solar Radiation
Pressure is included in the system, only a small number of particles larger than $10\mu m$ 
stays in the system. Smaller particles are ejected or collide with the massive bodies in a very
short period of time.

Abstract document

IAC-17,C1,8,5,x36628.brief.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-17,C1,8,5,x36628.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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