On the Possible Common Origin of Minor Planets, Comets, and Meteors

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For the minor planets, comets, and meteors whose orbital elements are known values of the dispersions σ_i(a) of the inclination i for intervals of the semimajor axis a have been calculated. Calculations on the minor planets show that, from the point of view of secular perturbations, σ_i(a) is more stable than ī(a), and we have therefore taken it as a fundamental relation for further considerations. It has been found that the relations σ_i(a) are linear for minor planets, comets, and meteors with a > 2 AU. The lines are parallel, and for a > 2 AU the σ_i(a) are proportional to a. Meteors have a second straight line for a < 2 AU, and in this case σ_i(a) is proportional to 1/a. It is concluded that minor planets, comets, and meteors could have a common origin.