Mars trojan
The Mars Trojans are a group of objects that share the orbit of the planet Mars around the Sun. They can be found around the two Lagrangian points 60° ahead of and behind Mars. The origin of the Mars trojans is not well understood. One theory suggests that the Mars trojans were captured in the Lagrange points as the Solar System was forming. However, spectral studies of the Mars Trojans indicate this may not be the case[1][2]. One explanation for this involves asteroids wandering into the Mars Lagrange points later in the Solar System's formation. This is also questionable considering the very low mass of Mars.
Presently, this family contains three known asteroids and there are many candidates: [3]
L4 Leading CLoud:
L5 Trailing Cloud:
Candidates
See also
- Trojan asteroids: asteroids that reside in trojan points
References
- ^ Rivkin, Andrew; Trilling, David; Thomas, Cristina; DeMeo, Fancesca; Spahr, Timoth; Binzel, Richard (2007). "Composition of the L5 Mars Trojans: Neighbors, not siblings". Icarus. 192 (2): 434–441. Bibcode:2007Icar..192..434R. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2007.06.026.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Trilling, David; Rivking, Andrew; Stansberry, John; Spahr, Timothy; Crudo, Richard; Davies, John (2007). "Albedos and diameters of three Mars Trojan asteroids". Icarus. 192 (2): 442–447. Bibcode:2007Icar..192..442T. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2007.08.002.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Minor Planet Center". Retrieved 2010-10-27.
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