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Chapter 15: Problem 36

The accompanying image from the Galileo spacecraft shows the asteroid \(243 \mathrm{Ida}\), which has dimensions \(56 \times 24 \times\) \(21 \mathrm{~km}\). Galileo discovered a tiny moon called Dactyl, just \(1.6 \times 1.4 \times 1.2 \mathrm{~km}\) in size, which orbits Ida at a distance of about \(100 \mathrm{~km}\). (In Greek mythology, the Dactyli were beings who lived on the slopes of Mount Ida.) Describe a scenario that could explain how Ida came to have a moon.

Short Answer

Expert verified
One possible scenario is that Dactyl was once a free-roaming asteroid that happened to pass close enough to Ida with a suitable velocity to get caught in its gravitational pull and eventually become its moon.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding Elements and Concepts

Understand the components involved in the scenario given - which are the asteroid Ida and its discovered moon Dactyl. Also, familiarize with the concept of asteroids having moons, which is not uncommon in the solar system.
02

Developing a Scenario

Develop a scenario that fits into the cosmos' natural body movement framework. One possibility is that Dactyl was a roaming asteroid that got caught in Ida's gravitational pull and eventually became its moon. This could happen if Dactyl was passing close enough to Ida with a suitable velocity.
03

Summarizing the Scenario

Summarize the scenario and explain it in a simple way. In this case, Dactyl, once a free asteroid, might have passed close enough to Ida to have been caught up in its gravitational influence, becoming its moon.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

asteroid 243 Ida
Asteroid 243 Ida is a fascinating object within our solar system, particularly because of its irregular shape and dimensions: 56 km long, 24 km wide, and 21 km thick. Discovered in 1884, Ida orbits the Sun between Mars and Jupiter as part of the asteroid belt. Understanding Ida's characteristics provides valuable insights into the history of our solar system. This asteroid presents a slightly elongated form, indicating a tumultuous past, possibly involving collisions or fragmentation.
  • Ida is categorized as an S-type asteroid, made predominantly of silicate minerals and nickel-iron.
  • Its irregular shape makes it a prime example for studying the effects of asteroid collisions.
  • The surface of Ida appears heavily cratered, suggesting a long history of impacts.
Studying Ida allows scientists to glean more about the building blocks that contributed to planet formation in the solar system.
Dactyl Moon
The Dactyl moon is remarkable due to its discovery as the first confirmed satellite of an asteroid. With dimensions of 1.6 km, 1.4 km, and 1.2 km, it appears as a small, irregularly shaped body orbiting Ida. Its presence challenges previous views that asteroids were always solitary. The name Dactyl comes from Greek mythology, befitting its mysterious and ancient nature.
  • Discovered in 1993 by the Galileo spacecraft, Dactyl's orbit around Ida takes place at a distance of about 100 km.
  • Understanding Dactyl's composition helps provide context to the diversity and complexity of small celestial bodies.
  • Dactyl's presence aids in validating computational models about gravitational interactions and moon formation.
As a satellite of an asteroid, Dactyl represents a bridge in our understanding of the processes that govern smaller celestial mechanics.
gravitational capture
Gravitational capture is a process that could account for moons like Dactyl becoming bound to asteroids such as Ida. The concept unfolds when a smaller body enters the gravitational sphere of a more massive object, like an asteroid, and loses enough kinetic energy to be captured in an orbit. For Ida and Dactyl, this means that Dactyl may have once been a wandering asteroid in space, but as it passed sufficiently close to Ida, it became ensnared by its gravitational pull.
  • This process often requires the influence of additional bodies or factors, such as the solar system's gravitational dynamics or prior impacts.
  • Captured moons can offer a timeline of such interactions within the solar system.
  • Gravitational capture is a nuanced dance of velocity, distance, and mass between the involved bodies.
Recognizing gravitational capture helps illustrate the dynamic and ever-changing nature of the cosmos.
Galileo spacecraft
The Galileo spacecraft was pivotal in advancing our understanding of both the solar system and the unique case of asteroid 243 Ida. Launched by NASA in 1989, Galileo's primary mission was to study Jupiter and its moons, but it also provided unprecedented insight into asteroids. In 1993, Galileo captured the first images of Ida and subsequently discovered Dactyl.
  • These images provided key data on asteroid surface composition, density, and structure.
  • Galileo's mission underscored the complexity of the smaller bodies in our solar system.
  • The successful discovery of Dactyl highlighted the spacecraft's impressive technology and capabilities.
The Galileo spacecraft thus marked a milestone in space exploration by widening the understanding of asteroid systems.
solar system
The solar system is a vast, dynamic community of celestial bodies governed by gravitational forces. At the center is our Sun, orbited by planets, moons, asteroids, and comets. Bodies like Ida and its moon Dactyl add depth to our understanding of the solar system's formation and evolution.
  • The asteroid belt, situated between Mars and Jupiter, is a key region containing countless rocky bodies like 243 Ida.
  • Understanding the interactions within the solar system helps scientists trace the solar system's history from dust cloud to its present state.
  • Moons such as Dactyl provide insights into the mechanics of gravitational capture and celestial evolution.
Exploring these components helps us grasp the intricate balances and interactions among solar system entities.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Why is it that Jupiter and Saturn can be seen in the night sky every year, while seeing specific comets such as Halley and Hyakutake is a once-in-a- lifetime event?

Search the World Wide Web to find out why some scientists disagree with the idea that a tremendous impact led to the demise of the dinosaurs. (They do not dispute that the impact took place, only what its consequences were.) What are their arguments? From what you learn, what is your opinion?

Use the Starry Night Enthusiast ?M program to study the motion of a comet. First set up the field of view so that you are observing the inner solar system from a distance (select Solar System > Inner Solar system in the Favourites menu). In the toolbar, click on the Stop button to halt the animation, and then set the date to January 1,1995 , and the time step to 1 day. Select View \(>\) Solar System \(>\) Asteroids in the menu to remove the asteroids from the view. Open the Find pane and center on Comet Hyakutake by typing "Hyakutake" in the Search All Databases box and then pressing the Enter key. Use the Zoom controls to decrease the field of view to about \(25^{\circ} \times\) \(17^{\circ}\). Then click on the Run Time Forward button. (a) Watch the motion of Comet Hyakutake for at least two years of simulated time. Describe what you see. Is the comet's orbit in about the same plane as the orbits of the inner planets, or is it steeply inclined to that plane? (You can tilt the plane of the solar system by holding down the Shift key while clicking on and moving the mouse to investigate this off-ecliptic motion.) How does the comet's speed vary as it moves along its orbit? During which part of the orbit is the tail visible? In what direction does the tail point? (b) Click on the Stop button to halt the animation, and set up the field of view so that you are observing from the center of a transparent Earth by selecting Guides \(>\) Atlas in the Favourites menu. Set the date to January 1, 1995, and the Time Flow Rate to 1 day, and again center on Comet Hyakutake. Use the controls at the righthand end of the toolbar to zoom out as far as possible. Then click on the Run Time Forward button and watch the comet's motion for at least two years of simulated time. Describe the motion, and explain why it is more complicated than the motion you observed in part (a). (c) Stop the animation, set the date to today's date, set the Time Flow Rate to 1 month ("lunar m."), and restart the animation. Comet Hyakutake is currently moving almost directly away from the Sun and so, as seen from the Sun, its position on the celestial sphere should not change. Is this what you see in Stamy Night Enthusiast \(\mathrm{\text {??? }}\) Explain any differences. (Hint: You are observing from the Earth, not the Sun.)

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