The real singularities of theN-body problem in celestial mechanics

Towards the end of nineteenth century, Celestial Mechanics provided the most powerful tools to test Newtonian gravity in the solar system and also led to the discovery of chaos in modern science. Nowadays, in light of general relativity, Celestial Mechanics leads to a new perspective on the motion of satellites and planets. The reader is here introduced to the modern formulation of the problem of motion, following what the leaders in the field have been teaching since the nineties, in particular, the use of a global chart for the overall dynamics of N bodies and N local charts describing the internal dynamics of each body. The next logical step studies in detail how to split the N-body problem into two sub-problems concerning the internal and external dynamics, how to achieve the effacement properties that would allow a decoupling of the two sub-problems, how to define external-potential-effacing coordinates and how to generalize the Newtonian multipole and tidal moments. The review paper ends with an assessment of the nonlocal equations of motion obtained within such a framework, a description of the modifications induced by general relativity on the theoretical analysis of the Newtonian three-body problem, and a mention of the potentialities of the analysis of solar-system metric data carried out with the Planetary Ephemeris Program.

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7 - Mecanique Celeste (Celestial Mechanics)

Transactions of the International Astronomical Union ◽

10.1017/s0251107x0000688x ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

pp. 15-28

Author(s):

V. A. Brumberg ◽

J. Henrard ◽

Ju. V. Batrakov ◽

K. B. Bhatnagar ◽

J. Chapront ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Solar System ◽

Celestial Mechanics ◽

Body Problem ◽

Dynamical Behaviour ◽

General Assembly ◽

Computational Techniques ◽

New Delhi ◽

Study Institute ◽

European Regional

During 1985-1987 Celestial Mechanics has been intensively developed in all its branches embracing physical bases, mathematical aspects, computational techniques and astronomical objectives. Commission 7 has organized three IAU conferences: Symposium No. 114 “Relativity in Celestial Mechanics and Astrometry” (Leningrad, May 1985), Colloquium No. 96 “The Few Body Problem” (Turku, June 1987) and Topical Session “Resonances in the Solar System” of the X-th European Regional Astronomy Meeting (Prague, August 1987). Members of the commission have broadly participated in the NATO Advanced Study Institute “Long-Term Dynamical Behaviour of Natural and Artificial N-Body Systems” (Cortina d’Ampezzo, August 1987) and some other international and regional conferences. Prospects of the actual celestial mechanics investigations have been discussed at a session of Commission 7 at the XIX-th IAU General Assembly (New Delhi, November 1985). Three papers dealing with the unsolved problems of celestial mechanics were primarily addressed to the rising generation of celestial mechanicians (V. A. Brumberg and J. Kovalevsky, CM. 39, 133, 1986; P.K. Seidelmann, CM. 39, 141, 1986).

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