Cratering rate on the jovian system: The contribution from Hilda asteroids

Abstract

We study the dynamical evolution of the Hilda group of asteroids trough numerical methods, performing also a collisional pseudo-evolution of the present population, in order to calculate the rate of evaporation and its contribution to the cratering history of the Galilean satellites. If the present population of small asteroids in the Hilda's region follows the same size distribution observed at larger radii, we find that this family is the main contributor to the production of small craters (i.e., crater with diameters d ∼ 4 km) on the Galilean system, overcoming the production by Jupiter Family Comets and by Trojan asteroids. The results of this investigation encourage further observational campaigns, in order to determine the size distribution function of small Hilda asteroids.