Expansion of the first-order planetary disturbing function by Smart's method

We expand the principal part of the planetary disturbing function, by Smart's method, using Taylor's theorem. In our expansion we neglect terms of degree higher than the fourth in the eccentricities and tangents of the inclinations.Now at the JPL Pasadena, California.     

Expansion of the planetary disturbing function

Some methods are described for the expansion of the disturbing function in planetary theory. One method uses the classical binomial expansion theorem or a successive approximation process derived from it. Another method is a direct application of the Laplace series expansions. For both methods it is proposed to first prepare the series to be manipulated by a scaling operation. These methods can be applied either in a literal or in a numerical form, or any combination of both, but they are especially designed for use on a large scale digital computer with standard Poisson series programs. No usage is made of Newcomb operators or derivatives of Laplace coefficients.     

Expansion of the planetary Hamiltonian function

We expand the planetary Hamiltonian function with its two parts, the principal and the indirect, up to the seventh order in the planetary masses. We adopt the Jacobi-Radau system of origins. The expansiion is valid for any number of planets.     

Expansions of the derivatives of the disturbing function in planetary problems

A method is suggested to develop literal expansions of derivatives of the disturbing function especially for the case of large values of the major axis ratio . The series remain convergent as well if =1, unless the eccentricities vanish at the same time. The treatment holds true in the case when usual analytical expansions are not valid, that is if the orbits have points equidistant from the primary. The general case is considered too, the intersecting orbits being included.     

A numerical investigation of secular terms of the planetary disturbing function

The secular terms of the planetary disturbing function are given, after elimination of short period terms by von Zeipel's transformation. The adequacy of this expansion up to terms of eighth order in the inclination and eccentricity is investigated by numerical processes, as a function of the Keplerian elementsa, e andi. The eccentricityé of the outer planet, is taken equal to zero. It is concluded that for values ofi which are not small the inclusion of additional terms in the expression for the disturbing function, results to drastic changes in its values, while larger values ofe do not have an equaly large effect on the disturbing function.     

Convergence of Newton's iteration for the expansion of the planetary disturbing function

A method is suggested for choosing the first approximation in Newton's iterations to expand the planetary disturbing function. The method ensures convergence of the process for any planetary orbits. An estimation is given for the number of iterations depending on a given accuracy of calculation.     

Construction of a general planetary theory of the first order

All the necessary formulae for constructing a general solution for the motion of a planet, in rectangular coordinates, at the first order of the disturbing masses, in purely literal form in eccentricities and inclinations, are given. The authors present the transformation formulae in the two-body problem which give the correspondence between the constants of integration introduced in the theory and the classical keplerian elements. The practical elaboration of the algorithm and some partial results for the couple of planets Jupiter and Saturn are described.     

The influence of the great inequality on the secular disturbing function of the planetary system

This paper derives the contributionF ₂ ^* by the great inequality to the secular disturbing function of the principal planets. Andoyer's expansion of the planetary disturbing function and von Zeipel's method of eliminating the periodic terms is employed; thereby, the corrected secular disturbing function for the planetary system is derived. An earlier solution suggested by Hill is based on Leverrier's equations for the variation of elements of Jupiter and Saturn and on the semi-empirical adjustment of the coefficients in the secular disturbing function. Nowadays there are several modern methods of eliminating periodic terms from the Hamiltonian and deriving a purely secular disturbing function. Von Zeipel's method is especially suitable. The conclusion is drawn that the canonicity of the equations for the secular variation of the heliocentric elements can be preserved if there be retained, in the secular disturbing function, terms only of the second and fourth order relative to the eccentricity and inclinations.The Krylov-Bogolubov method is suggested for eliminating periodic terms, if it is desired to include the secular perturbations of the fifth and higher order in the heliocentric elements. The additional part of the secular disturbing functionF ₂ ^* derived in this paper can be included in existing theories of the secular effects of principal planets. A better approach would be to preserve the homogeneity of the theory and rederive all the secular perturbations of principal planets using Andoyer's symbolism, including the part produced by the great inequality.     

Expansion of the disturbing function for high eccentricity and large amplitude of libration

Following some ideas, developed by Woltjer (1928), Message (1989), Yokoyama (1988, 1989) and Duriez (1990) an expansion of the disturbing function is given for high values of the eccentricity and large amplitude of libration. The classical expansion can be obtained as a particular case of the present model. Several asteroids with high eccentricity and large amplitude of libration are tested and the results are much better than those obtained from the classical theory.     

Expansion of the planetary mutual distance raised to any negative power by the method of symbolic differential operators

We present a literal approach to evaluate ^–s necessary for the construction of high order planetary theories. This approach is valid to be applied on very large scale digital computers with standard Poisson series programs, for high order and high degree planetary theories. We apply the method of symbolic differential operators for single variable functions, and the binomial theorem expansions, for the evaluation of ^–s . We utilize Laplace coefficients and its derivatives to carry out the development, without dealing with Newcomb operators or Hansen's coefficients.     

Convergence of the expansions of the disturbing functions in the planar three-body planetary problem

In the framework of the planar three-body planetary problem, conditions are found for the absolute convergence of the expansions of the disturbing functions in powers of the eccentricities, with coefficients represented by trigonometric polynomials with respect to the mean, eccentric, or true anomaly of the inner planet. It is found that using the eccentric or true anomaly as the independent variable instead of the mean anomaly (or time) extends the holomorphy domain of the principal part of the perturbation functions. The expansions of the second parts converge in open bicircles, which admit values of the eccentricity of the inner planet in excess of the Laplace limit.     

A new expansion of planetary disturbing function and applications to interior,co-orbital and exterior resonances with planets

In this study,a new expansion of planetary disturbing function is developed for describing the resonant dynamics of minor bodies with arbitrary inclinations and...     

The elimination of the critical terms of a first order Uranus-Neptune theory by Hori's method

In this part we determine the value ofS ₁, and in terms of the canonical variables of H. Poincaré. A complete solution of the auxiliary system of equations generated by the Hamiltonian is presented.     

Results of the first Italian planetary radar experiment

We describe the first intercontinental planetary radar initiative undertaken in Italy.We present the results of the observations of Near-Earth Asteroid (NEA) 33342 (1998 WT24), performed in December 2001 using the bistatic configurations Goldstone-Medicina and Evpatoria-Medicina, with the 32-m Medicina dish used to receive echoes in both cases.The experiment goal was to characterise the system for radar follow-up observations of NEA and artificial orbiting debris, in the framework of a feasibility study which aims at using the Sardinia Radio Telescope, at present under construction, also as a planetary radar facility.     

A note on Le Verrier's expansion of the disturbing function

An examination of Le Verrier's seventh-order expansion of the disturbing function has revealed only one non-trivial error in Le Verrier's work. The error occurs in a sixth order term in the eccentricities.     

The convergence domain of the Laplacian expansion of the disturbing function

A computer-assisted reformulation of Sundman's determination of the the domain of absolute convergence of the Laplacian expansion fo the disturbing function is given. Sundman's results are extended to the cases of librating perihelions and a convergence criterion is established for the case of mutually inclined orbits.     

Second order secular planetary theory for the four major planets

We generalize our results of a second order Jupiter-Saturn planetary theory to be applicable for the case of the four major planets.We use the Von Zeipel method and we neglect powers higher than the third with respect to the eccentricities and sines of the inclinations in our expansions. We consider the critical terms as the only periodic terms.     

Satellite orbits perturbed by direct solar radiation pressure: General expansion of the disturbing function

An expression is derived for the solar radiation pressure disturbing function on an Earth satellite orbit which takes into account the variation of the solar radiation flux with distance from the Sun's centre and the absorption of radiation by the satellite. This expression is then expanded in terms of the Keplerian elements of the satellite and solar orbits using Kaula's method. The Kaula inclination functions are replaced by an equivalent set of modified Allan inclination functions.The resulting expression reduces to the form commonly used in solar radiation pressure perturbation studies (e.g. Aksnes, 1976), when certain terms are neglected. If, as happens quite often in practice, a satellite's orbit is in near-resonsnce with certain of these neglected terms, these near-resonant terms can cause changes in the satellite's orbital elements comparable to those produced by the largest term in Aksnes's expression. A new expression for the solar radiation pressure disturbing function expansion is suggested for use in future studies of satellite orbits perturbed by solar radiation pressure.     

A semi-numerical expansion of the averaged disturbing function for some very-high-eccentricity orbits

A note on the construction of expansions of the disturbing function valid for any eccentricity and on some applications.