AstroGrav Help / Sample Simulations / Solar System 2 / Asteroid Toutatis

Asteroid Toutatis

Introduction

This simulation shows the close encounter of Asteroid Toutatis with the Earth on 29th September 2004.

The simulation also contains the Sun, together with all known planets and the Moon.

What you can do with it

If you run the simulation forward, you can watch the close encounter from different viewpoints, and see how the asteroid's orbit was slightly changed by the influence of the Earth's gravity.

Ideas for further investigation

You can find out more from the following web site:

http://skyandtelescope.com/observing/objects/asteroids/article_1336_1.asp