On the velocity distribution of the minor planets and stars

The velocity distribution of the minor planets is studied in comparison with that of the stars in the neighbourhood of the Sun. The phase configuration at a given instant has been obtained and the distribution has been studied for different ecliptic sectors. The velocity distribution of the minor planets is similar to that of the stars and differs little form the trivariate normal distribution. The vertex presents a deviation from the direction of the Sun which is positive or negative for different sectors. This vertex deviation is a consequence of the orbit orientations. The relaxation time, deduced from the encounters between the minor planets, is of the order of 10¹⁴ to 10¹⁶ yr.