<p>The mass of Vesta was determined by observing its effect on 197 Arete. The model used is that Vesta will cause the eccentricity and semi-major axis to change. By observing the asteroid before and after their encounter, and determining the asteroid's orbital elements before and after, one can find the angle of deflection. Model the motion as a hyperbolic encounter and one can find the combined mass. Since 197 Arete is much smaller than Vesta, this gives a good estimate of the mass of Vesta.</p>

<p>The mass of asteroids can also be found by their perturbations of Mars, providing there are sufficiently accurate observations. Viking radar data (with an accuracy of 7m) allowed for good estimates of the mass of the major asteroids. The Dawn mission to Vesta and Ceres made very high accuracy measurements of the gravity field around them and so their mass.</p>

<p>The math involved is essentially just Newtonian mechanics. You know the positions and velocities before the encounter. There is an energy conserving encounter with a force of $$F = \frac{m_1 m_2 G}{r^2}$$ Finding the angle of perturbation allows you to find the reduced mass $$\frac{m_1 m_2}{m_1+m_2}$$</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-01-03T11:38:52.237Z
2017-01-03T11:38:52.237Z
James K
<p>How exactly, with steps and math shown, do you derive the masses of asteroids via perturbations? <em>please</em>, no links, because I have searched and searched for years and can't find anything. </p>

<p>I mean like asteroids- how are their masses determined exactly? What equations are used?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-03-24T21:25:30.293Z
Do you mean perturbations of heavier objects (e.e. gas giants) that have known masses?
AtmosphericPrisonEscape
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-03-25T16:12:59.990Z
I mean like asteroids- how are their masses determined exactly? What equations are used?
Damon Blevins
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-04-02T00:07:06.000Z
Also on Physics: https://physics.stackexchange.com/questions/173682/perturbations-of-planetary-orbita
HDE 226868
<asteroids>
Dynamic Method-Please explain
Damon Blevins
# Dynamic Method-Please explain

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-03-24)

How exactly, with steps and math shown, do you derive the masses of asteroids via perturbations? *please*, no links, because I have searched and searched for years and can't find anything.

I mean like asteroids- how are their masses determined exactly? What equations are used?

**Tags:** asteroids

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Do you mean perturbations of heavier objects (e.e. gas giants) that have known masses?  
> **username_0**: I mean like asteroids- how are their masses determined exactly? What equations are used?  
> **username_2**: Also on Physics: https://physics.stackexchange.com/questions/173682/perturbations-of-planetary-orbita  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2017-01-03. Score: 4

The mass of Vesta was determined by observing its effect on 197 Arete. The model used is that Vesta will cause the eccentricity and semi-major axis to change. By observing the asteroid before and after their encounter, and determining the asteroid's orbital elements before and after, one can find the angle of deflection. Model the motion as a hyperbolic encounter and one can find the combined mass. Since 197 Arete is much smaller than Vesta, this gives a good estimate of the mass of Vesta.

The mass of asteroids can also be found by their perturbations of Mars, providing there are sufficiently accurate observations. Viking radar data (with an accuracy of 7m) allowed for good estimates of the mass of the major asteroids. The Dawn mission to Vesta and Ceres made very high accuracy measurements of the gravity field around them and so their mass.

The math involved is essentially just Newtonian mechanics. You know the positions and velocities before the encounter. There is an energy conserving encounter with a force of $$F = \frac{m\_1 m\_2 G}{r^2}$$ Finding the angle of perturbation allows you to find the reduced mass $$\frac{m\_1 m\_2}{m\_1+m\_2}$$


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