The Astrology of Space - Matrix Software

The Astrology of Space
between 3.3 and 6 years, with a weighted average of
1.5 years. The orbits are somewhat more eccentric
than those of the principal planets and the orbital
planes are also more highly inclined to the plane of
the ecliptic. The asteroids are more or less evenly
spread between Mars and Jupiter, with some
exceptions. None has a period close to one-half, twofifths
or one-third of the orbital period of Jupiter and
these spaces in the asteroid belt are termed the
Kirkwood gaps.
It was first thought that these gaps were produced by
perturbations caused by the giant planet Jupiter, but
today it is felt that the disturbing actions of many
asteroids on each other, in resonance, force them out
of period. There is no precise information concerning
the true mass or structure of any asteroid. Many
astronomers believe that most are the broken
fragments of two (or many) small planets that, formed
between Mars and Jupiter, subsequently underwent
violent collisions.
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