Orbital analysis in the gravitational potential of elongated asteroids

Abstract

This work studies the motion around irregular elongated asteroids through two approaches. Firstly, it revisits the dipole-segment model, identifying families of periodic orbits for asymmetric mass distribution. Additionally, a new model incorporating variable density for elongated asteroids is introduced and compared to the dipole-segment model. Several families of periodic orbits have been found through continuation of planar orbits and out-of-plane bifurcation processes, obtaining results in agreement with previous studies about the dynamics around irregular asteroids. This highlights the relevance of simple mathematical models in studying asteroid dynamics and the importance of accounting for density and geometric properties. Although the families of periodic orbits studied in this work are not comprehensively sampled, they constitute an example of the variety of orbits that can be followed by a particle orbiting the asteroid, helping us to better understand the dynamics around these elongated bodies.