The formation of asteroidal satellites in catastrophic collisions

Numerical simulations of the initial stages of the expanding debris field resulting from the disruption of a parent asteroid show that the formation of co-orbiting fragments and even contact binaries is a natural outcome of catastrophic collisions between asteroids. The formation of contact structures is favored over the formation of true orbiting pairs. A wide range of primary-to-secondary size ratios is produced, from Ida/Dactyl-like pairs to small binaries with equal-sized components. Composite configurations with satellites orbiting around contact structures are also possible. (C) 1996 Academic Press, Inc.