The possibility of capture of short-period comets on retrograde satellite orbits

Abstract

AbstractThe possibility to capture a small body moving on a heliocentric stable orbit by Jupiter has been investigated. Initial conditions were taken from the 8th retrograde satellite of Jupiter where we changed the orbital velocity so that the fictitious body was now in a heliocentric stable orbit. Using the numerical integrate techniques, we found conditions at which the small body can be captured by Jupiter on a retrograde orbit. To change the stable heliocentric orbit of the body to a transfer orbit to Jupiter, we used the techniques of small orbital velocity variations.