My latest astronomical research paper has just been published in Icarus! In this study, I conducted a systematic search for resonant objects in the Neptune region, examining both two-body and three-body mean-motion resonances (MMRs).
A mean-motion resonance occurs when orbital periods form simple integer ratios — like one object making exactly three orbits while another makes two. This creates regular gravitational interactions that can lock objects into specific orbital patterns.
Key findings:
The most striking discovery is how resonant the trans-Neptunian region actually is. My analysis shows that at least 49.3% of objects beyond Neptune are trapped in resonances, possibly reaching 65.1% when including controversial cases. This is over three times higher than what we see in the main asteroid belt!
This means Neptune’s gravitational influence shapes these distant orbits much more profoundly than previously thought, creating a highly organized structure rather than random distributions.
In my research, I ran two simulations: first examining standard resonances, then extending to higher-order and higher-coefficient resonances. I identified several objects trapped in multiple resonances simultaneously - like asteroid 602715, which is captured in both a three-body resonance (2U-2N-5) and a two-body resonance (5N-13).
These findings help us understand solar system formation and evolution. The resonances preserve information about Neptune’s migration history and major events that shaped our solar system billions of years ago.
The full paper is available in the latest issue of Icarus (Volume 436, 2025).