The outer solar system for 200 million years. (original) (raw)

NASA/ADS

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Abstract

The authors have used a special-purpose computer to integrate the orbits of the outer five planets for more than 100 Myr into the future and more than 100 Myr into the past. The strongest features in the Fourier transforms of the orbital elements of the Jovian planets can be identified with the frequencies predicted by linear secular theory. Many of the weaker features in the Fourier spectra are identified as linear combinations of the basic frequencies. The authors note serious differences between their measurements and the predictions of Bretagnon (1974). The amplitude of the 3.796 Myr period libration of Pluto's longitude of perihelion is modulated with a period of 34 Myr. Very long periods, on the order of 137 Myr, are also seen. The orbit of Pluto is stable for the duration of integration; the maximum Lyapunov characteristic exponent is less than 10-6.8yr-1.

Publication:

The Astronomical Journal

Pub Date:

July 1986

DOI:

10.1086/114149

Bibcode:

1986AJ.....92..176A

Keywords: