Monday, January 28, 2013

[irbpftho] Low mass binary system

Two low mass objects in gravitational orbit around each other are impressive because how easily they could have be perturbed: it's amazing that it exists.

Similarly, I think two objects of similar mass orbiting one another are also impressive: it seems much rarer than a large primary body and a small satellite.  Pluto-Charon.

Is there a single measure that elegantly captures both rareness attributes?  Practically, perhaps difference of masses.  Asteroid with moon, e.g., Ida-Dactyl.

What is the minimum possible in the inner solar system, stable despite the perturbations of the sun and other planets?

90 Antiope

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