The Orbital Evolution of 2007 VA85,
an Amor-type Asteroid on a Retrograde Orbit
P. Kankiewicz1, I . Wodarczyk2
1Institute of Physics of Astrophysics Division of J. Kochanowski University,
Kielce, Poland
2Chorzów Astronomical Observatory, Chorzów, Poland
Abstract:
Among the known population of asteroids on retrograde orbits (i > 90°) we found an object classified as an Amor-type asteroid. During the analysis of the first results of astrometry, we found some possible Earth-impact solutions for this asteroid. After taking into account the latest observations, we excluded any significant impact solution. However, this asteroid is the first known example of potentially hazardous object on a retrograde orbit. We also investigated the orbital evolution of 2007 VA85 (1 Myr in the past), obtaining possible scenarios of its dynamical origin.
Key words:
Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI), Near Earth Objects (NEOs), population of asteroids on retrograde orbits, an Amor-type asteroid, possible Earth-impact solutions, potentially hazardous object, orbital evolution of 2007 VA85, dynamical origin.