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Mammoth-Mud-9609 t1_jeflh1i wrote
Asteroids and Trojans. Part 1: Introduction to asteroids and setting the scene. A look at the early formation of our Solar system and how that in turn relates to the general conditions of how and where the asteroids formed within our Solar system. https://youtu.be/Il_DM-_Sw0g
Asteroids and Trojans. Part 2: Kirkwood gap and the density and distribution of the asteroids. A look at the difference between the portrayal of an asteroid field in films and the reality of the one in our Solar system. The asteroids are widely scattered and even occur in distinct bands creating the Kirkwood gap due to the synchronisation of the orbits of the asteroids and Jupiter. https://youtu.be/ibXLAewSTCs
Asteroids and Trojans. Part 3: Asteroid composition and the Lagrange point. Looking at the three major asteroid types, Metallic, Carbon and Silicon and how the distribution of the Trojan and Greek asteroids around Jupiter relates to the Lagrange point and the three body problem. https://youtu.be/QUEJYsGNRWE
AlphaWhelp t1_jeg1zgu wrote
A little further out past the Trojans is a planet named Gor
kuahara t1_jefk0xu wrote
Exact same orbit? Exact same speed? This sounds terribly dangerous if not. Why am I wrong?
Mammoth-Mud-9609 t1_jeflmx9 wrote
Like vehicles travelling round a motorway at the same speed, when there is plenty of distance between the bodies there is no risk of a collision.
EndoExo t1_jefyxhm wrote
If they're in our orbit and orbiting the sun at the same rate, there's no chance of them hitting us. We keep the same distance apart at all times. It's asteroids crossing our orbit that have a chance to hit us.
But it's not actually in the exact same orbit. It moves around a Lagrange point where the Earth-Sun gravity interaction creates a stable zone to hang out with us while we move around the Sun.
Bruce-7891 t1_jeg1tvy wrote
This makes more sense. Doesn't the speed of the orbit and mass of the object have to be a certain ratio for it not to get sucked into the star or ejected into space? It would have to be a planet sized asteroid. The title is a little misleading.
EndoExo t1_jeg6a2v wrote
They're not planet-sized. Wiki says one is about 300m and another 1.2km. Everything in an orbit is traveling the necessary speed for that orbit, otherwise it wouldn't be an orbit. In most cases, an object in the same orbit around the Sun as Earth would eventually be pulled into a different orbit by Earth's gravity, but these asteroids are moving around a Lagrange point where the gravity of the Earth and the Sun kinda cancel out for orbital purposes.
formerlyanonymous_ t1_jege99n wrote
Honestly, Neptune and Pluto's 3:2 resonance sounds way worse, but is equally nothing.
Dr_CatGranola t1_jegjtk8 wrote
Glad the Earth’s got some protection