The Strength and Shapes of Contact Binary Objects
While contact binary objects are common in the solar system, their formation mechanism is unclear. In this work we examine several contact binaries and calculate the necessary strength parameters that allow the two lobes to merge without the smaller of the two being gravitationally destroyed by the...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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IOP Publishing
2024-01-01
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| Series: | The Astrophysical Journal Letters |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/ad2853 |
| _version_ | 1827345054737367040 |
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| author | Alex J. Meyer Daniel J. Scheeres |
| author_facet | Alex J. Meyer Daniel J. Scheeres |
| author_sort | Alex J. Meyer |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | While contact binary objects are common in the solar system, their formation mechanism is unclear. In this work we examine several contact binaries and calculate the necessary strength parameters that allow the two lobes to merge without the smaller of the two being gravitationally destroyed by the larger. We find a small but nonzero amount of cohesion or a large friction angle is required for the smaller lobe to survive the merging process, consistent with observations. This means it is possible for two previously separated rubble piles to experience a collapse of their mutual orbit and form a contact binary. The necessary strength required to survive this merger depends on the relative size, shape, and density of the body, with prolate shapes requiring more cohesion than oblate shapes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T22:59:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bf9b94ea22124be5b84d014c9571296f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2041-8205 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T22:59:27Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | IOP Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | The Astrophysical Journal Letters |
| spelling | doaj.art-bf9b94ea22124be5b84d014c9571296f2024-02-22T16:05:37ZengIOP PublishingThe Astrophysical Journal Letters2041-82052024-01-019631L1410.3847/2041-8213/ad2853The Strength and Shapes of Contact Binary ObjectsAlex J. Meyer0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8437-1076Daniel J. Scheeres1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0558-3842Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder , 3775 Discover Drive, Boulder, CO 80303, USA ; alex.meyer@colorado.eduSmead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder , 3775 Discover Drive, Boulder, CO 80303, USA ; alex.meyer@colorado.eduWhile contact binary objects are common in the solar system, their formation mechanism is unclear. In this work we examine several contact binaries and calculate the necessary strength parameters that allow the two lobes to merge without the smaller of the two being gravitationally destroyed by the larger. We find a small but nonzero amount of cohesion or a large friction angle is required for the smaller lobe to survive the merging process, consistent with observations. This means it is possible for two previously separated rubble piles to experience a collapse of their mutual orbit and form a contact binary. The necessary strength required to survive this merger depends on the relative size, shape, and density of the body, with prolate shapes requiring more cohesion than oblate shapes.https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/ad2853AsteroidsSmall Solar System bodiesCometsNatural satellites (Solar system) |
| spellingShingle | Alex J. Meyer Daniel J. Scheeres The Strength and Shapes of Contact Binary Objects The Astrophysical Journal Letters Asteroids Small Solar System bodies Comets Natural satellites (Solar system) |
| title | The Strength and Shapes of Contact Binary Objects |
| title_full | The Strength and Shapes of Contact Binary Objects |
| title_fullStr | The Strength and Shapes of Contact Binary Objects |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Strength and Shapes of Contact Binary Objects |
| title_short | The Strength and Shapes of Contact Binary Objects |
| title_sort | strength and shapes of contact binary objects |
| topic | Asteroids Small Solar System bodies Comets Natural satellites (Solar system) |
| url | https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/ad2853 |
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