On the gravitational stability of satellite-orbiting objects: A reply to T. Gold

The stability of a satellite-orbiting object under the disturbing influence of the parent planet can be assessed by comparison with analogous three-body systems. The changes in the eccentricity and semimajor axis of a satellite-orbiting object (disturbed by the planet) and a planetary satellite (disturbed by the sun) scale equally if the dimensions of the systems are scaled by the sphere of influence of the orbited body. Thus, the apparent gravitational stability of planetary satellites supports theories of the gravitational stability of satellite-orbiting objects.