Effect of Krein signatures on the stability of relative equilibria

We consider the linear stability of the equilibrium points of the generic rotating potentials U(r), U(r, ), U(r, and U(r, , . The stability analysis is performed using the concept of Krein's signature. This signature is calculated for all eigenvalues of the above potentials. Thereby, the Lagrangian points of the restricted three-body problem and the synchronous satellites of oblate and prolate planets are also studied. We find also the new positions of the eigenvalues for perturbations of the original L₄ and L₅ points of Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. Finally, we study the problem with the mass ratio µ close to the critical value and the stability of geostationary satellites perturbed by the Moon.