Hektor, the largest Jupiter Trojan asteroid that has its own moon.Three Katz School mathematics and physics researchers have developed a theoretical framework for predicting the possible shapes and gravitational fields of asteroids. The results, published in the international journal Astrophysics and Space Science in March, can be useful for spacecraft engineers developing landing designs for irregularly shaped celestial objects. The research was funded by a $412,000 grant from the National Science Foundation. 鈥淥ne of the paper鈥檚 central challenges was to find mathematical expressions for representing gravity on the surface of an irregularly shaped asteroid, understanding that, unlike on Earth, gravity on these objects isn鈥檛 constant,鈥 said Dr. Fredy Zypman, a professor of physics and co-author of the paper with Dr. Marian Gidea, professor and chair of the M.S. and Ph.D. mathematics programs, and Dr. Wai-Ting Lam, a doctoral alum in mathematics and now a member of the faculty at 麻豆区鈥檚 Stern College for Women. Asteroids in the solar system can take on a variety of shapes. They are of particular interest to scientists and explorers because they鈥檙e rich in minerals. 鈥淭he exploration of the irregular gravity fields is compelling,鈥 said Dr. Lam. 鈥淚n particular, dumbbell shapes are among those that have been observed for comets and asteroids.鈥 The Katz School researchers focused on dumbbell-shaped, or peanut-shaped, asteroids whose gravitational fields can vary widely on their surfaces because their mass is unevenly distributed, as opposed to Earth, a nearly rounded object that produces a relatively constant gravitational field. 鈥淒umbbells are among the shapes that have been observed for comets and asteroids, making them both astronomically and mathematically interesting,鈥 said Dr. Gidea. 鈥淏ecause the gravitational field of an asteroid is complicated, more irregular, spacecrafts have to be very careful on their approach.鈥 Examples of oddly shaped asteroids include Hektor, the largest Jupiter Trojan asteroid that has its own moon, the Comet Hartley 2 which was the target of a flyby in 2010 by NASA鈥檚 Deep Impact spacecraft, and the trans-Neptunian Arrokoth, or Ultima Thule, located in the Kuiper Belt, which was the target of the New Horizons space probe鈥檚 flyby in 2019. 鈥淚n addition to the general results for gravity on peanut-shaped objects, we also created a model for the shape of Hektor that can be described by simple equations. This formula gives us a possible family of shapes for this type of asteroid,鈥 said Dr. Gidea. 鈥淭he peanut-shaped asteroids aren鈥檛 all identical. We had to figure out how many exist and the family of shapes, and then we figured out the gravity at any point in the vicinity of these shapes.鈥 Dr. Zypman said the researchers also studied how the shape of an asteroid changes depending on its rotation. 鈥淭his knowledge is relevant for understanding how the asteroid formed initially, when the object was still malleable and approaching its current shape.鈥 The Katz School of Science and Health is an academic powerhouse in the heart of New York City. It offers master's programs in five sectors that are redefining the economy: Artificial Intelligence, Biotech and Health, Cybersecurity, and Digital Media. In the lab, classroom and clinic, we lead with kindness, integrity, generosity and a commitment to making the world safer, smarter and healthier.
