Pluto near the edge of chaos. (arXiv:2204.04121v1 [astro-ph.EP])
<a href="http://arxiv.org/find/astro-ph/1/au:+Malhotra_R/0/1/0/all/0/1">Renu Malhotra</a>, <a href="http://arxiv.org/find/astro-ph/1/au:+Ito_T/0/1/0/all/0/1">Takashi Ito</a>
Many of the unusual properties of Pluto’s orbit are widely accepted as
evidence for the orbital migration of the giant planets in early solar system
history. However, some properties remain an enigma. Pluto’s long term orbital
stability is supported by two special properties of its orbit that limit the
location of its perihelion in azimuth and in latitude. We revisit Pluto’s
orbital dynamics with a view to elucidating the individual and collective
gravitational effects of the giant planets on constraining its perihelion
location. While the resonant perturbations from Neptune account for the
azimuthal constraint on Pluto’s perihelion location, we demonstrate that the
long term and steady persistence of the latitudinal constraint is possible only
in a narrow range of additional secular forcing which arises fortuitously from
the particular orbital architecture of the other giant planets. Our
investigations also find that Jupiter has a largely stabilizing influence
whereas Uranus has a largely destabilizing influence on Pluto’s orbit. Overall,
Pluto’s orbit is rather surprisingly close to a zone of strong chaos.
Many of the unusual properties of Pluto’s orbit are widely accepted as
evidence for the orbital migration of the giant planets in early solar system
history. However, some properties remain an enigma. Pluto’s long term orbital
stability is supported by two special properties of its orbit that limit the
location of its perihelion in azimuth and in latitude. We revisit Pluto’s
orbital dynamics with a view to elucidating the individual and collective
gravitational effects of the giant planets on constraining its perihelion
location. While the resonant perturbations from Neptune account for the
azimuthal constraint on Pluto’s perihelion location, we demonstrate that the
long term and steady persistence of the latitudinal constraint is possible only
in a narrow range of additional secular forcing which arises fortuitously from
the particular orbital architecture of the other giant planets. Our
investigations also find that Jupiter has a largely stabilizing influence
whereas Uranus has a largely destabilizing influence on Pluto’s orbit. Overall,
Pluto’s orbit is rather surprisingly close to a zone of strong chaos.
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