Dynamical Configurations of Celestial Systems Comprised of Multiple Irregular Bodies

TL;DR

This paper analyzes the nonlinear dynamics of systems with multiple irregular celestial bodies, considering gravitational, electric, and magnetic potentials, and applies the findings to simulate and study the stability of asteroid and planetary systems.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive framework for analyzing the dynamics of multiple irregular celestial bodies, including equilibrium conditions and stability analysis, with applications to real asteroid and planetary systems.

Findings

Equilibrium conditions for n-body irregular systems derived

Simulations of asteroid systems demonstrate stability analysis methods

Dynamical configurations of specific asteroid and Pluto systems analyzed

Abstract

This manuscript considers the main features of the nonlinear dynamics of multiple irregular celestial body systems. The gravitational potential, static electric potential, and magnetic potential are considered. Based on the three established potentials, we show that three conservative values exist for this system, including a Jacobi integral. The equilibrium conditions for the system are derived and their stability analyzed. The equilibrium conditions of a celestial system comprised of n irregular bodies are reduced to 12n minus 9 equations. The dynamical results are applied to simulate the motion of multiple-asteroid systems. The simulation is useful for the study of the stability of multiple irregular celestial body systems and for the design of spacecraft orbits to triple asteroid systems discovered in the solar system. The dynamical configurations of the five triple-asteroid systems 45 Eugenia, 87 Sylvia, 93 Minerva, 216 Kleopatra, and 136617 1994CC, and the six-body system 134340 Pluto are calculated and analyzed.