THE THREE PRINCIPAL SECULAR RESONANCES v(5), v(6), and v(16) IN THE ASTEROIDAL BELT

We review theoretical and numerical results obtained for secular resonant motion in the asteroidal belt. William's theory (1969) yields the locations of the principal secular resonances v(5), v(6), and v(16) in the asteroidal belt. Theories by Nakai and Kinoshita (1985) and by Yoshikawa (1987) allow us to model the basic features of orbital evolution at the secular resonances v(16) and v(6), respectively. No theory is available for the secular resonance v(5). Numerical experiments by Froeschle and Scholl yield quantitative and new qualitative results for orbital evolutions at the three principal secular resonances v(5), v(6), and v(16). These experiments indicate possible chaotic motion due to overlapping resonances. A secular resonance may overlap with another secular resonance or with a mean motion resonance. The role of the secular resonances as possible sources of meteorites is discussed.