Stellar motions in galactic satellites

J. C. MUZZIO; M. M. VERGNE; F. C. WACHLIN; D. D. CARPINTERO

CELESTIAL MECHANICS & DYNAMICAL ASTRONOMY

SPRINGER

Lugar: Berlin; Año: 2001 vol. 81 p. 167 - 176

0923-2958

The study of the motions of the stars that belong to a galactic satellite (i.e. a globular cluster or a dwarf galaxy orbiting a larger one) has some similarities, as well as significant differences, with that of the restricted three-body problem of celestial mechanics. The high percentage of chaotic orbits present in some models is of particular interest because it rises, on the one hand, the question of the origin of those chaotic motions and, on the other hand, the question of whether an equilibrium stellar system can be built when the bulk of the stars that make it up behave chaotically.