The main secular resonances ν6, vs and ν16 in the asteroid belt

In this paper an analytical model, suitable for a global description of the dynamics in a secular resonance of order 1, is derived from the general perturbation study developed in a previous paper (Morbidelli and Henrard (1991)). Such a model is then used to study the secular resonances ν₆, ν₅ and ν₁₆, and pictures illustrating the secular motion are obtained. The peculiarities of the ν₅ resonances are discussed in detail. The results are compared with those obtained by the theories of Yoshikawa and Nakai-Kinoshita. Some numerical simulations performed by Ch. Froeschlé and H. Scholl are discussed in the light of the new theoretical results. New numerical experiments on the ν₆ resonance are also presented.