The evolution of the orbit of the Geminid meteor stream

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Abstract
The Geminids were first reliably recorded in 186 2. Observations of this stream over the last 118 years indicate that the ascending node is stationary at an Ω value of 261.38 ± 0.11. A theoretical analysis of the effect of planetary induced gravitational perturbation on the stream results in a predicted decrease in the ascending node by 1.57 deg century–1. The general rule that streams with inclinations greater than 90° have positive dΩ/dt values whereas streams with inclinations less than 90° have negative dΩ/dt is disobeyed by the Geminids. Various possible explanations for this discrepancy are discussed and one of these turns out to be very satisfactory.

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