Trojan (astronomy)

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Trojan asteroids of Jupiter (coloured green) in front of and behind Jupiter along its orbital path. Also shown is the main asteroid belt between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter (white) and the Hilda family of asteroids (brown)

In astronomy, the adjective 'Trojan' refers to an asteroid or natural satellite (moon) that shares the same orbit as a larger planet or moon, but does not collide with the latter because it orbits around one of the two Lagrangian points of stability, L₄ and L₅, which lie 60° ahead of and behind the larger object.

The term originally referred to asteroids orbiting around Jupiter's Lagrangian points. Subsequently other objects have been found orbiting the Lagrangian points of other planets. In addition, Trojan moons are known to orbit the Lagrangian points of some of Saturn's larger moons.

• The term 'Trojan asteroids' normally refers only to Jupiter Trojans.
• 5261 Eureka, (101429) 1998 VF₃₁, (121514) 1999 UJ₇, and 2007 NS₂ are Mars Trojans^[1].
• Six Neptune Trojans^[2] are known.

[edit] References

1. ^ List of Martian Trojans. Retrieved on 2007-08-31.
2. ^ List of Neptune Trojans. Retrieved on 2007-08-31.

[edit] See also

• List of objects at Lagrangian points
• Lagrangian point
• Trojan planet
• Trojan moon
• Trojan asteroid

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