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From: acourt@BBN-VAX.ARPA ("Anthony J. Courtemanche")
Newsgroups: net.space
Subject: Re: Trojan asteriods
Message-ID: <8601241616.AA04734@s1-b.arpa>
Date: Fri, 24-Jan-86 11:10:00 EST
Article-I.D.: s1-b.8601241616.AA04734
Posted: Fri Jan 24 11:10:00 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 25-Jan-86 09:32:59 EST
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> Remember the inverse-square law, and the distances in the outer Solar
> System: those effects are going to be pretty small.

If I'm not mistaken, resonances with planets are responsible for
the "Kirkwood gaps" in the asteroid belt (the one between Mars and
Jupiter, I think).  The asteroid belt is not uniform but has several
rings where there are no asteroids at all.  Computer simulation at
M.I.T. has convinced some people that if there were any any asteroids
in the Kirkwood gaps, after some period of time they would eventually
settle into non-Kirkwood gap orbits.  If planetary resonances can
explain this structuring of the asteriod belt, I don't think it
is too far fetched that planetary resonances can sling Trojan asteroids
into earth-crossing orbits.  I am not necessarily a beleiver but I don't
think it is outrageous.

Disclaimer: I disclaim this disclaimer.

--Anthony Courtemance
acourt@bbn-vax.arpa