A multiresolution model for small-body gravity estimation

A new model, dubbed the MRQSphere, provides a multiresolution representation of the gravity field designed for its estimation. The multiresolution representation uses an approximation via Gaussians of the solution of the Laplace’s equation in the exterior of a sphere. Also, instead of the spherical...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Celestial mechanics and dynamical astronomy 2011-11, Vol.111 (3), p.309-335
Main Authors: Jones, Brandon A., Beylkin, Gregory, Born, George H., Provence, Robert S.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Accuracy
Aerospace Technology and Astronautics
Astrophysics and Astroparticles
Classical Mechanics
Dynamical Systems and Ergodic Theory
Estimating
Geophysics/Geodesy
Gravitation
Gravitational fields
Invariants
Mathematical models
Original Article
Physics
Physics and Astronomy
Representations
Spatial distribution
Spherical harmonics
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Summary:A new model, dubbed the MRQSphere, provides a multiresolution representation of the gravity field designed for its estimation. The multiresolution representation uses an approximation via Gaussians of the solution of the Laplace’s equation in the exterior of a sphere. Also, instead of the spherical harmonics, variations in the angular variables are modeled by a set of functions constructed using quadratures for the sphere invariant under the icosahedral group. When combined, these tools specify the spatial resolution of the gravity field as a function of altitude and required accuracy. We define this model, and apply it to representing and estimating the gravity field of the asteroid 433 Eros. We verified that a MRQSphere model derived directly from the true spherical harmonics gravity model satisfies the user defined precision. We also use the MRQSphere model to estimate the gravity field of Eros for a simulated satellite mission, yielding a solution with accuracy only limited by measurement errors and their spatial distribution.
ISSN:0923-2958
1572-9478
DOI:10.1007/s10569-011-9374-y