Significant high number commensurabilities in the main lunar problem II: the occurrence of Saros-like near periodicities

B. A. Steves*, G. B. Valsecchi, E. Perozzi, A. E. Roy

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The effect of changes in the Moon's semimajor axis and the Earth's orbital eccentricity on the occurrence of Saros-like cycles is examined. The Earth-Moon-Sun dynamical system exhibits such cycles for only 25 to 30% of the time interval between -5×107 to +5×107 years. Not only has the present Saros the smallest period during this time, but it also has one of the longest durations and the period closest to an integral number of anomalistic years, thus making it one of the most efficient Saros-like cycles for reversing solar perturbations in the main lunar problem. During the lifetime of a Saros-like cycle, variations of the Earth's orbital eccentricity cause frequent disappearances and reappearances of the cycle.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)341-358
Number of pages18
JournalCelestial Mechanics & Dynamical Astronomy
Volume57
Issue number1-2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 1993

Keywords

  • main lunar problem
  • periodic orbits
  • Saros like periodicities

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Modelling and Simulation
  • Mathematical Physics
  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Space and Planetary Science
  • Computational Mathematics
  • Applied Mathematics

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