NH Arrokoth (formerly Ultima Thule) Encounter Observations & Results, post-flyby discussion as the data arrives |
NH Arrokoth (formerly Ultima Thule) Encounter Observations & Results, post-flyby discussion as the data arrives |
Jan 4 2019, 01:16 AM
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Merciless Robot Group: Admin Posts: 8785 Joined: 8-December 05 From: Los Angeles Member No.: 602 |
This will be where we talk about the data as it arrives over the next 20 months or so.
-------------------- A few will take this knowledge and use this power of a dream realized as a force for change, an impetus for further discovery to make less ancient dreams real.
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Jan 26 2019, 12:29 PM
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Member Group: Members Posts: 688 Joined: 20-April 05 From: Sweden Member No.: 273 |
As for the mechanism bringing the bodies back together after a major impact, tidal dissipation immediately comes to mind. If the impact energy was enough to make one body at least partially plastic the dissipation would be greatly increased.
However explicitly calculating the effect on two highly irregular (and possibly inhomogenous) rotating bodies in probably very eccentric orbits would be quite challenging. Qualitatively I would guess that the tidal effects would first slow down rotation of both bodies until they became tidally locked, and probably simultaneously decrease eccentricity of the orbits. Once tidal rotational lock is reached any further dissipation would very slowly bring the bodies together. Of course they could also have re-collided physically long before this. It all depends on the orbits. |
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