title: The hierarchical stability of the seven known large size ratio triple asteroids using the empirical stability parameters.
abstract: In this study, the hierarchical stability of the seven known large size ratio triple asteroids is investigated. The effect of the solar gravity and primary'sJ2are considered. The force function is expanded in terms of mass ratios based on the Hill's approximation and the large size ratio property. The empirical stability parameters are used to examine the hierarchical stability of the triple asteroids. It is found that the all the known large size ratio triple asteroid systems are hierarchically stable. This study provides useful information for future evolutions of the triple asteroids.
authors.affiliation: School of Aerospace, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084 China.
authors.forename: Xiaodong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: School of Aerospace, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084 China.
authors.forename: Hexi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Baoyin
authors.affiliation: Carl Sagan Center, SETI Institute, 189 Bernardo Avenue, Mountain View, CA 94043 USA.
authors.forename: Franck
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Marchis
keywords: Asteroids, dynamics; Celestial mechanics; Satellites of asteroids
references.citation: Nature. 2005 Aug 11;436(7052):822-4
references.pmid: 16094362