Relativistic orbital perturbations in a weak gravitational field (Q1071329)

With the general third-order equations of motion for a test particle, Synge's third-order orbital equations at great distance in the weak gravitational field generated by a massive body are derived. The body has an axis of symmetry around which is rotating steadily. The results found for the advance of perihelion using first integrals of motion for the general equations show that the effect due to the inner stress of the body can be derived for orbits with inclination with respect to the equator of the body. Then, by means of the variation of the parameters method, we obtain with the equations at great distance the corresponding perturbations on the elements of such orbits in the field considered. These perturbations result to be of second order with regard to the mass of the body (the basis of the approximation).