Secular resonance

A secular resonance is a type of orbital resonance of two bodies with a synchronized precession. Secular resonances are used to study the long-time orbital evolution of asteroids and their families within the asteroid belt, where ν6 denotes such a resonance with respect to Saturn. A secular resonance is a type of orbital resonance of two bodies with a synchronized precession. Secular resonances are used to study the long-time orbital evolution of asteroids and their families within the asteroid belt, where ν6 denotes such a resonance with respect to Saturn. Secular resonances occur when the precession of two orbits is synchronised (a precession of the perihelion, with frequency g, or the ascending node, with frequency s, or both). A small body (such as a small Solar System body) in secular resonance with a much larger one (e.g. a planet) will precess at the same rate as the large body. Over relatively short time periods (a million years, or so) a secular resonance will change the eccentricity and inclination of the small body.