Kirkwood gaps

Kirkwood gaps are regions in the asteroid belt, between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, where few asteroids are found. These gaps occur because of gravitational influences from Jupiter. As Jupiter orbits the Sun, its strong gravity can disrupt the orbits of nearby asteroids, effectively “clearing out” certain areas. This means that asteroids in those regions are either pulled toward Jupiter or ejected from the belt altogether. The gaps are named after American astronomer Daniel Kirkwood, who noted them in the 19th century. They highlight the dynamic interactions between celestial bodies in our solar system.