The arrangement in mean elements space of the periodic orbits close to that of the Moon

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

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

In a simplified model of the Earth-Moon-Sun system based on the restricted circular 3-dimensional 3-body problem, it is possible to find numerically a set of 8 periodic orbits whose time evolutions closely resemble that of the Moon's orbit. These orbits have a period of 223 synodic months (i.e. the period of the Saros cycle known for more than two millennia as a means of predicting eclipses), and are characterized by a secular rotation of the argument of perigee ω. Periodic orbits of longer durations exhibiting this last feature are very abundant in Earth-Moon-Sun dynamical models. Their arrangement in the space of the mean orbital elements ē-ī for various values of the lunar mean motion is presented.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)373-380
Number of pages8
JournalCelestial Mechanics and Dynamical Astronomy
Volume56
Issue number1-2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 1993

Keywords

  • motion of the Moon
  • periodic orbits
  • Saros cycle

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The arrangement in mean elements space of the periodic orbits close to that of the Moon'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this