Applications of three-body resonances to satellites and planetary rings

Abstract

ABSTRACTFormulas have been derived for the strengths and libration/ circulation characteristics of resonances for which qn1- (p+q)n2+ pn3= 0, where p and q are integers and n1, n2, and n3are the mean motions of any three gravitationally interacting bodies in coplanar orbits.The formulas are applied to the well known Laplacian satellite resonances as well as to other possible 3-body resonances in the satellite and ring systems of Jupiter, Uranus, and Saturn.