Trojan Asteroids without n-body physics

[NERVAfan]

Could KSP's physics allow for Trojan asteroids in Jool's orbit? Since celestial bodies are "on rails" the lack of actual lagrange points shouldn't be a problem... unless I'm misunderstanding how it works.

[FITorion]

could you define Trojan asteroids?

[NGTOne]

The so-called "Trojan" asteroids are two clouds of asteroids that inhabit Jupiter's L4 and L5 points (60 degrees in front of and behind it along the same orbit, respectively), having collected there between the formation of the solar system and the present day. Because each asteroid has negligible mass relative to both the Sun and Jupiter, it stays at the Lagrange point, until some other sufficient force (collision, what have you) causes it to leave. While it's technically possible for ANY body to have Trojans (and a few Martian ones have been identified), Jupiter's sheer mass relative to the rest of the Solar System, and position close to the asteroid belt, ensure that it has the largest Trojan clouds.

While, yes, the OP's original suggestion is correct, it would be possible to implement a field of Trojans without having to resort to N-body physics (the orbital properties of the Trojans are decently well-understood - giving them slightly different orbits with apside differences of a few tens or hundreds of km would be sufficient - this is how it works in reality, more or less, and is a decent approximation of the path the rock takes as it orbits the Lagrange, as the Lagrange "orbits" the Sun), I'm pretty sure this would be a low priority for the devs, possibly even having to wait until after the implementation of a proper asteroid belt (if THAT ever happens, naturally).

Cool idea, though. Might make for some interesting missions (first Jool, then one of the Trojan clouds).

Edited August 1, 2013 by NGTOne

[TheBeardyMan]

Trojan asteroids shouldn't be a problem, because they're found at the L4 and L5 points, which, along with the L3 point, have neutral equilibrium in KSP's simplified orbital mechanics. The only Lagrange points where you can't orbit without N body physics are L1 and L2.

Lagrange Point N Body Equilibrium Patched Conic Equilibrium

L1 Unstable None

L2 Unstable None

L3 Unstable Neutral

L4 Stable Neutral

L5 Stable Neutral

P.S. Sorry about table format, what I typed wasn't what I got

Edited August 1, 2013 by TheBeardyMan