On the Parameters of Approaches to the Earth by Asteroids

Abstract

The paper presents the results of statistical modeling of the entry of near-Earth asteroids (NEAs) into near-Earth space (NES)—a sphere with a radius of 0.01 AU around the Earth. Distributions of asteroids by direction and velocity of entry into NES are constructed. The NEA population was modeled using the NEOMOD software with subsequent integration of the dynamic evolution for 110 years using the REBOUND package. It is shown that: 1) the number of asteroids larger than 10 m entering NES is approximately 1000 per year; 2) up to half of the asteroids can enter NES from the dayside hemisphere; 3) the asteroid flux density is increased in the solar and antisolar directions. Typical velocities of approach to the Earth when entering the NES are approximately 7.5 km s\({}^{-1}\) (the velocities range is from 0 to 30 km s\({}^{-1}\)). The distribution of entries by distance and velocity relative to an observer located at the Lagrange point \(L_{1}\) of the Sun–Earth system is also calculated. These distributions can be useful in designing the System of Observation of Daytime Asteroids (SODA).