An iterative method of general perturbations programmed for a computer

Hansen's classical method of general perturbations was revised from its basis on a Taylor Series expansion in the masses of the disturbing planets to an iterative method, which can start with the best theory known, or with only the mean, or osculating, orbit of the planet. The article describes the iterative Hansen's method together with some of the necessary subroutines which have been programmed to handle the series on a digital computer.The method has been tested by generating the theory of a major planet and the theory of a minor planet having a near commensurability with Jupiter and some of the results have been described in the last section of the paper.This paper is a summary of dissertation presented to the University of Cincinnati in candidacy for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.