Alien Sunsets on Tumbling Asteroids

Name: Yang “Fish” Yu
Major: Physics
Minor: Mathematics
Advisors: Dr. John F. Lindner, Dr. Cody Leary
We simulated Sol�s apparent motion as observed from tumbling asteroids. If all the mass of the asteroid is concentrated at a point, it will move in an elliptical orbit, like Earth. To account for the tumbling of the asteroid, we extend the point into a dumbbell. We forced the center of mass to move elliptically, and then the asteroid itself tumbled, according to Newton�s second law.
We calculated Sol�s apparent motion by numerical integration of Kepler and dumbbell�s orbital equations and changeable parameters. Our system is very sensitive to initial conditions, and hence is chaotic.
We simulated Sol�s movement in skies under different conditions from observer�s perspective. Sol is able to move irregularly in the skies; it may move back and forth in the sky or stay below the horizon for days.