Abstract:
The motion of a mass point in the gravitational field of two bodies traveling in circular orbits about their center of mass is considered. The mass ratio of the two bodies is equal to $\varepsilon\ll 1$. When the mass point passes close to the smaller mass, the character of its trajectory changes abruptly, and the trajectory asymptotics as $\varepsilon\to 0$ is complex. A uniform asymptotic expansion of the entire trajectory accurate to any power of $\varepsilon$ is constructed and validated. In particular, an algorithm is presented for finding the limiting turning angle of the trajectory after the mass point passes near the smaller mass.
Key words:three body problem, asymptotic expansions, solution matching.