Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics – Earth and Planetary Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2009-06-24
Nature 457:1109-1111,2009
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
Earth and Planetary Astrophysics
8 pages, 2 figures, includes supplementary material; appeared in Nature (26 Feb 2009)
Scientific paper
10.1038/nature07778
The main asteroid belt lies between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, but the region is not uniformly filled with asteroids. There are gaps, known as the Kirkwood gaps, in the asteroid distribution in distinct locations that are associated with orbital resonances with the giant planets; asteroids placed in these locations follow chaotic orbits and escape from the asteroid belt. Here we show that the observed distribution of main belt asteroids does not fill uniformly even those regions that are dynamically stable over the age of the solar system. We find a pattern of excess depletion of asteroids, particularly just outward of the Kirkwood Gaps associated with the 5:2, the 7:3, and the 2:1 jovian resonances. These features are not accounted for by planetary perturbations in the current structure of the solar system, but are consistent with dynamical ejection of asteroids by the sweeping of gravitational resonances during the migration of Jupiter and Saturn ~4 gigayears ago.
Malhotra Renu
Minton David A.
No associations
LandOfFree
A record of planet migration in the Main Asteroid Belt does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with A record of planet migration in the Main Asteroid Belt, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and A record of planet migration in the Main Asteroid Belt will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-536625