Published online by Cambridge University Press: 14 August 2015
A new approach to the planetary theory is examined under the following procedure: 1) we use a canonical perturbation method based on the averaging principle; 2) we adopt Charlier's canonical relative coordinates fixed to the Sun, and the equations of motion of planets can be written in the canonical form; 3) we adopt some devices concerning the development of the disturbing function. Our development can be applied formally in the case of nearly intersecting orbits as the Neptune-Pluto system. Procedure 1) has been adopted by Message (1976).