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_Circling the Rings: A Conjecture About Solar Rings_

_Henry Zemel_

_New York_
_e-mail: henryz at interport.net_

The eccentricity and inclination of planets, moons, asteroids, and
comets are linked in a peculiar way: the bodies in the ecliptic, and
the moons in the equatorial plane have nearly circular orbits, while
those off the ecliptic or equator are mostly elliptical. Among the
planets, all orbits are nearly circular and in the ecliptic, except
for Mercury and Pluto whose orbits are elliptical and considerably
inclined to the ecliptic. Of the 32 major moons of planets, 20 orbit
in the equatorial plane (inclination < 4 degrees), and nearly all of
these orbits, 19 of 20, are circular (eccentricity < 0.1.) By
contrast, 9 of the 12 inclined moons have elliptical orbits. Asteroid
orbits are primarily elliptical and off the ecliptic. A graph of
"number of asteroids" versus "inclination" peaks at 4 degrees
inclination, and then drops rapidly as inclination approaches zero.
This is the distribution one would expect if the ecliptic had been
swept clear of asteroids. These patterns among the satellites of the
sun are consistent with a system of shrinking solar rings in the
ecliptic, and concurrently, an extensive - and shrinking - ring system
around the major planets. If elaborate ring systems existed and
degenerated in historic times - a highly speculative supposition --
they would form part of the panorama described in ancient records.
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Presented at the SIS Conference: [1]Natural Catastrophes during Bronze
Age Civilisations.

References

1. file://localhost/www/sat/cambconf.htm