The Asteroids Part 4

[3] Astr. Nach., No. 932.

[4] Monthly Notices, vol. xxvii.

[5] Annals of the Obs. of Harv. Coll., 1879.

[6] This ingenious idea may be readily extended. The least distance of aethra is less than the present aphelion distance of Mars; and the maximum aphelion distance of the latter exceeds the perihelion distance of several known asteroids. Moreover, if we represent the orbits of the major planets, and also those of the comets of known periods, by material rings, it is easy to see that the major as well as the minor planets are all linked together in the manner suggested by D'Arrest.

[7] The effects of Jupiter's disturbing influence will again be resumed.

[8] Not only nebulae are probably unstable, but also many of the sidereal systems. The Milky Way itself was so regarded by Sir William Herschel.

[9] Menippe, No. 188, is placed in one of the gaps by its calculated elements; but the fact that it has not been seen since the year of its discovery, 1878, indicates a probable error in its elements.

[10] The minor planet Andromache, immediately interior to the critical distance 3.51, has elements somewhat remarkable. With two exceptions, aethra (132) and Istria (183), it has the greatest eccentricity (0.3571),--nearly equal to that of the comet 1867 II. at its last return. Its perihelion distance is 2.2880, its aphelion 4.7262; hence the distance from the perihelion to the aphelion of its...o...b..t is greater than its least distance from the sun, and it crosses the orbits of all members of the group so far as known; its least distance from the sun being considerably less than the aphelion of Medusa, and its greatest exceeding the aphelion of Hilda.

[11] The unit being the sun's distance from the earth.

[12] Annuaire, 1886.