Abstract:

"Collisional Lifetimes and Impact Statistics of Near-Earth Asteroids"

W. F. Bottke, Jr., M. C. Nolan, R. Greenberg, and R. A. Kolvoord

(1995) In Hazard Due to Comets and Asteroids, (T. Gehrels, M. S.

Matthews, Eds.) University of Arizona Press, 337-357.



Impact probabilities and impact velocity distributions are computed for collisons among populations of orbiting bodies using a formalism that takes into account the geometry of intersecting Keplerian orbits. We consider impacts of near-Earth asteroids (NEAs) by various populations, including other NEAs, main-belt asteroids, and terrestrial planets. Contrary to current meteorite models, a typical NEA is twice as likely as a main-belt asteroid to be disrupted by impact with a main-belt body. Lifetimes of NEAs against collision with terrestrial planets are similar to results of Monte-Carlo studies. Rates of impact on terrestrial planets, as a function of NEA size, and the corresponding impact velocity distributions are important for consideration of impact hazards.


For more information, contact Bill Bottke:bottke@astrosun.tn.cornell.edu