The Evolution of Comet Orbits

Abstract

AbstractThis review states and defends seven conclusions on the origin of comets and the evolution of their orbits:1.There is a N-½ law of survival of comets against ejection on hyperbolic orbits, where N is the number of perihelion passages.2.The short-period comets are not created by single close encounters of near-parabolic comets with Jupiter.3.Observable long-period comets do not evolve into observable short-period comets.4.Unobservable long-period comets with perihelia near Jupiter can evolve into observable short-period comets.5.Long-period comets cannot have been formed or created within the planetary region of the solar system. (This conclusion is somewhat qualified because of possible effects of stellar perturbations. )6.It is possible that some of ths short-period comets could have been formed inside the orbit of Neptune, but it is certain that others have the same distant source as the long-period comets.7.The circularly-restricted 3-body problem, and its associated Jacobi integral, are not valid approximations to use in studying origin and evolution of comets.