). We discuss the nature of this asteroid's
trajectory, the mechanisms by which it may have come to be in its
current relationship with the Earth, and consider its long-term
stability.
The orbital evolution of near-Earth asteroid 3753 (1986 TO)
P. Wiegert, K. Innanen (York University), S. Mikkola (University of Turku)
Asteroid 3753 (1986 TO) has recently been found to be co-orbital with
the Earth; more precisely, it is in 1:1 resonance on a "horseshoe"
type orbit. Though horseshoe orbits are rare in themselves, this
configuration is made even more unusual by the asteroid's relatively
large heliocentric eccentricity (e=0.51) and inclination
( ). We discuss the nature of this asteroid's
trajectory, the mechanisms by which it may have come to be in its
current relationship with the Earth, and consider its long-term
stability.