Consider that the Earth describes a circular path whose radius is a. Suppose there is an asteroid that describes a parabolic path in the plane of Earth's orbit. Show that the points where the asteroid crosses Earth's orbit are given by 2p cos o = -1+ where p is the closest approach distance of the asteroid to the Sun, which occurs when ø is equal to zero.

Consider that the Earth describes a circular path whose radius is a. Suppose there is an asteroid that describes a parabolic path in the plane of Earth's orbit. Show that the points where the asteroid crosses Earth's orbit are given by 2p cos o = -1+ where p is the closest approach distance of the asteroid to the Sun, which occurs when ø is equal to zero.