Published online by Cambridge University Press: 12 April 2016
A study is made of the distribution of reciprocal semi-major axis in photographic meteor orbits. A detailed classification of the orbits is made according to quality. The distribution of 1/a in precise orbits is multimodal with two broad maxima approximately centered on 0.05 and 0.40 (AU)-1. Minima in the distribution appear near 0.20 and 0.66 (AU)-1 corresponding to Jupiter’s and Mars’ position in the 1/a, diagram. Considerable fine structure appears in the 1/a distribution. Resonance gaps corresponding to commensurabilities with Jupiter are detected. The gaps are similar to the well studied Kirkwood gaps in the asteroid beli.