A Composite Catalogue of Asteroid Proper Elements

Abstract

We have assembled the asteroid proper elements computed by different authors, using different methods, and for different regions of the asteroid belt. Asteroids on planet crossing orbits are not yet included. The use of very different algorithms is dictated by the dynamics of the different regions. For the asteroids of the main belt, having semimajor axes between 2.1 and 3.8 AU, and with proper eccentricity and sine of inclination less than 0.3, proper elements are computed by a fully analytical iterative theory developed by Milani and Knežević (1990,1992,1994; hereafter M&K). For high inclination and/or eccentricity main-belt asteroids, having 1.8 < a < 3.8 AU and either e or sin I larger than 0.24, proper elements are computed by a semianalytical theory developed by Lemaitre and Morbidelli (1994; hereafter L&M). For Trojans, proper elements are computed by a synthetic theory (that is, from the output of a numerical integration for a few Myr) by Milani (1993). For the Hilda asteroids in the 3: 2 resonance, proper elements have been computed by a synthetic theory by Schubart (1982, 1991). For a discussion of the state of the art in the computation of proper elements, see Knežević and Milani, this volume; for Trojans, see Milani, this volume; for some other cases (e.g. proper elements for resonant asteroids), see Froeschlé and Morbidelli, this volume. When and if new proper elements will be available for other asteroids, they will be added to the public domain file, together with updates and upgrades of the existing catalogues.