RAOS: REBOUND-based Customizable Codes for Asteroid Orbital Simulation
M. Rezky, E. Soegiartini, M.I. Hakim and A.S. Hutasoit

Astronomy Research Group, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Indonesia

Abstract

RAOS is an N-body simulation program intended for the orbital simulation of asteroids, which utilised Python-based REBOUND and REBOUNDx code packages. It was designed for studying the orbital dynamics of asteroids in our Solar system, with data produced in one simulation run such as ephemerides calculation of target asteroid, Kozai parameter, and resonance-related parameters. For ephemerides calculation, RAOS also provides options to include calculations for 243 (3^5) asteroid clones to determine the orbital stability of the target asteroid within 1-sigma uncertainty of the nominal orbit value. The modular and tailored nature of REBOUND and REBOUNDx packages makes it easy to build customisable code to accommodate specific needs for different types of target asteroids and their respective orbital studies. Besides the ability to modify integrator, collision, and other simulation settings, RAOS also provides ways to include non-gravitational influences such as post-Newtonian and radiation forces.
In this paper, we discuss the general algorithm, its limitations, and opportunities for further development that will benefit the development of Solar system dynamical studies. We also present results from the RAOS program on several Atira asteroids that were subject to our separate research project, with relative errors within the expected theoretical values that prove the accuracy of this program. As the RAOS program is also structured to allow modifications for further developments, it will also be beneficial for the advancement of computational astrophysics for future researchers and students.

Keywords: Asteroid, Ephemerides, N-body simulation, Orbital dynamics

Topic: EARTH, ATMOSPHERIC, AND SPACE SCIENCE