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The Evolution of Comet Orbits

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 February 2018

Edgar Everhart

Abstract

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This review states and defends seven conclusions on the origin of comets and the evolution of their orbits:

  1. 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. 2. The short-period comets are not created by single close encounters of near-parabolic comets with Jupiter.

  3. 3. Observable long-period comets do not evolve into observable short-period comets.

  4. 4. Unobservable long-period comets with perihelia near Jupiter can evolve into observable short-period comets.

  5. 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. 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. 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.

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