Commensurability (astronomy)

Commensurability (astronomy)

Commensurability is the property of two orbiting objects, such as planets, satellites, or asteroids, whose orbital periods are in a rational proportion.

Examples include the 2:3 commensurability between the orbital periods of Neptune and Pluto, the 3:4 commensurability between the orbital periods of the Saturnian satellites Titan and Hyperion, the Kirkwood Gaps in the asteroid belt, and the 2:1 commensurability between the extrasolar planets Gliese 876b and Gliese 876c.

Commensurabilities are believed to result from orbital resonance effects.

See also


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