Real and imaginary Kirkwood gaps

Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy

Scientific paper

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Methods: Analytical -- Meteors, Meteoroids -- Minor Planets, Asteroids

Scientific paper

The evidence for resonant structure in the distribution of the semimajor axes of members of asteroid families and meteoroid streams is reviewed. It is shown that, because families and streams are identified by clustering of orbital elements, great care must be taken to distinguish between actual removal of objects (`real' gaps) and the failure to identify members of families or streams because of resonant perturbations (`imaginary' gaps). If it can be shown that gaps are real then this can lead to important constraints on the time-scale for the removal of objects. Sample variations of semimajor axis and eccentricity are calculated for resonant locations in the Themis asteroid family and the Quadrantid meteoroid stream using high-order expansions of the planetary disturbing function. Evidence is presented suggesting that a prominent gap in the Themis family associated with the 15:7 jovian resonance is real, whereas that associated with the 3:1 resonance in the Quadrantid meteors is imaginary. Recent claims concerning resonant structure in the Perseid meteor stream are examined in a similar context. Key words: methods: analytical - meteors, meteoroids - minor planets, asteroids.

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