Hilda Asteroids in the Jupiter Neighborhood

R. P. DI SISTO; A. BRUNINI

Space Exploration Research

Nova Science Publishers, Inc.

Año: 2009; p. 443 - 456

Hilda asteroids are objects that orbit the Sun at a distance where the orbital periodis exactly 2/3 of the orbital period of Jupiter. Previous analytical and numerical studieshave focused their attention to the great dynamical stability within the orbital regionwhere the Hilda asteroids are found. However the group is indeed dispersing. Inthis paper we are going to review the contribution of Hilda asteroids to the Jupiterneiborhood. Based on simulations of long term dynamical evolution of escaped Hildaasteroids, it is find that 8% of the particles leaving the resonance end up impactingJupiter. Also they are the main source of small craters on the Jovian satellite system,overcoming the production rate by comets and Trojan asteroids. Almost all the escapedHildas pass through the dynamical region occupied by JFCs, and the mean dynamicallife time there is 1.4×106 years. ∼ 14% of JFCs with q > 2.5 A.U. could be escapedHilda asteroids. We analyzed also the possibility that the Shoemaker - Levy 9 was anHilda asteroid.