Re: Asteroid - Mars non-impact question

Shawn wrote:
Chris L Peterson wrote:
On Fri, 28 Dec 2007 17:28:49 -0800, Bill Owen <wmo@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

The object is coming in on a hyperbolic orbit, and if there's no collision it will leave on a hyperbolic orbit.

The orbit is elliptical, with e=0.6. Nowhere near hyperbolic.

snip

When I read Bill's post I assumed he meant hyperbolic WRT Mars.
If I understand correctly, "hyperbolic orbit" is something of an oxymoron.


Shawn


There are closed (e < 1) and open (e =/> 1) orbits.

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