A precise modeling of Eros 433 rotation

Abstract

Thanks to the recent data obtained from the NEAR space probe, we calculate in this paper, with a precision never reached so far for an asteroid, the precession and the nutation of Eros 433. In a preliminary step, we show that Eros obliquity has a remarkable value of 89.0° which tends to align its figure axis along the orbital plane. This very specific obliquity has some consequences on the motion of the axis of figure: one is the very small amplitude of the precession in longitude, for which we get the value ψ ̇ =2″.84/ y . Moreover, we calculate Eros nutation for the figure axis due to the Sun, after developing the perturbing potential at the 4th order of the eccentricity. We show that the figure axis undergoes very large oscillations in the direction perpendicular to Eros orbital plane, due to the nutation in obliquity. Peak to peak, these oscillations reach 55″, which is far larger than the amplitudes of the nutations of the Earth due to the Sun (of the order of 2″). Moreover, we give the analytical developments of Δ ψ and Δ ε, both for the axis of angular momentum, and the axis of figure.