Application of epochs superposition method for periodic component searching in semi-major axis distribution of Near Earth Asteroids (NEA)

An important fundamental problem is to find periodic components (if they exist) in distributions of elements of orbits of comets, asteroids and meteor showers. The method of superposed epochs is a non-parametric method of finding of hidden periodicity and is based on building of series´ phase diagrams for different values of test periods. Its advantage is the absence of a priori assumptions about the shape of a periodic component, which in most cases is assumed as per harmonic, and therefore it allows determining the true shape of the periodic component.