Skip to main content
All Reviews
Astronomy
intermediate

SECULAR RESONANCE SWEEPING OF THE MAIN ASTEROID BELT DURING PLANET MIGRATION

David A. Minton & Renu Malhotra (2011)

Published
Apr 14, 2011
Journal
The Astrophysical Journal · Vol. 732 · No. 1
DOI
10.1088/0004-637X/732/1/53

At a GlanceAI

Models how sweeping secular resonances during giant-planet migration reshaped the main asteroid belt’s orbits.

SummaryAI

The paper examines how secular resonances moved across the main asteroid belt as the planets migrated in the early Solar System. It argues that this “sweeping” can strongly excite asteroid eccentricities and inclinations and deplete parts of the belt, linking present-day structure to migration history. By tying belt-wide orbital excitation to resonance motion, it provides constraints on the timescales and pathways of planet migration. The results highlight secular resonances as a key mechanism connecting giant-planet evolution to the asteroid belt’s dynamical architecture.

Method SnapshotAI

Dynamical modeling of planet migration with analysis of the resulting sweeping secular resonance effects on asteroid orbits.

BackgroundAI

Celestial mechanics of secular resonances and basic Solar System dynamical evolution (planet migration and asteroid-belt dynamics).

Expert Review: SECULAR RESONANCE SWEEPING OF THE MAIN ASTEROID BELT DURING PLANET MIGRATION | Marginalia