Possible Origin of the Damocloids:the Scattered Disk or a New Region?

TL;DR

This study investigates the possible origins of Damocloids, suggesting they may originate from the scattered disk or a perturbed Oort cloud region, based on dynamical simulations and classification.

Contribution

It introduces a new classification of Damocloids based on their origin, highlighting the potential link to the scattered disk and Oort cloud.

Findings

Approximately 65.5% of Damocloids originate from the Oort cloud.

Two potential origin regions identified: scattered disk and a perturbed Oort cloud.

Damocloids can be classified into two types based on their semi-major axes.

Abstract

The Damocloids are a group of unusual asteroids, recently enrolling a new member of 2010 EJ104. The dynamical evolution for the Damocloids may uncover a connection passage from the Main Belt, the Kuiper Belt and the scattered disk beyond. According to our simulations, two regions may be considered as possible origin of the Damocloids: the scattered disk, or a part of Oort cloud which will be perturbed to a transient region locating between 700 AU and 1000 AU. Based on the potential origin, the Damocloids can be classified into two types, with relation to their semi-major axes, and about 65.5% Damocloids is classified into type I which mainly originate from Oort cloud. Whether the Damocloids is inactive nuclei of Halley Family Comets may rely on their origin.