Asteroid Orbital Resonance

Watch Kirkwood gaps form as Jupiter's gravity clears resonant orbits (3:1, 5:2, 7:3, 2:1).

Controls

Resonance Locations (AU)

4:1 resonance2.06 AU
3:1 resonance2.50 AU
5:2 resonance2.82 AU
7:3 resonance2.96 AU
2:1 resonance3.28 AU

Orbital Distribution

Kirkwood gaps: Asteroids near resonant orbital periods are repeatedly perturbed by Jupiter, eventually leaving those orbits. Watch the histogram develop gaps!