Équipe francaise : Pascal Descamps, Institut de Mécanique Céleste et de Calcul des Ephémérides, Observatoire de Paris Daniel Hestroffer, Institut de Mécanique Céleste et de Calcul des Ephémérides, Observatoire de Paris Jérôme Berthier, Institut de Mécanique Céleste et de Calcul des Ephémérides, Observatoire de Paris Équipe américaine : Franck Marchis, University of California at Berkeley, Department of Astronomy

Références (1) F. Marchis, P. Descamps, D. Hestroffer, J. Berthier ; Discovery of the first triple asteroidal system 87 Sylvia. Nature, 2005 Voir la Press Release de l’ESO

Contacts Pascal Descamps (Observatoire de Paris, IMCCE) descamps imcce.fr

Daniel Hestroffer (Observatoire de Paris, IMCCE) hestroffer imcce.fr Jérôme Berthier (Observatoire de Paris, IMCCE) berthier imcce.fr

Dernière modification le 22 février 2013

The observations of the moonlets’ orbits allow the astronomers to precisely calculate the mass and density of Sylvia. With a density only 20% higher than the density of water, it is likely composed of water ice and rubble from a primordial asteroid. These asteroids are loose aggregations of rock presumably created when another asteroid smacked into it and disrupted it. A new asteroid formed later by accumulation of large fragments. The moonlets are probably debris left over from the collision that were captured by the newly formed asteroid and eventually settled into orbits around it. Because of the way they form, we expect to see more multiple asteroid systems like this. French team : Pascal Descamps, Institut de Mécanique Céleste et de Calcul des Ephémérides, Observatoire de Paris Daniel Hestroffer, Institut de Mécanique Céleste et de Calcul des Ephémérides, Observatoire de Paris Jérôme Berthier, Institut de Mécanique Céleste et de Calcul des Ephémérides, Observatoire de Paris American team : Franck Marchis, University of California at Berkeley, Department of Astronomy

References (1) F. Marchis, P. Descamps, D. Hestroffer, J. Berthier ; Discovery of the first triple asteroidal system 87 Sylvia. Nature, 2005 See the ESO Press Release

Contacts Pascal Descamps (Observatoire de Paris, IMCCE) descamps imcce.fr

Daniel Hestroffer (Observatoire de Paris, IMCCE) hestroffer imcce.fr Jérôme Berthier (Observatoire de Paris, IMCCE) berthier imcce.fr

Dernière modification le 4 mars 2013