  We derive an effective equation of motion for the orientational dynamics of a
neutrally buoyant spheroid suspended in a simple shear flow, valid for
arbitrary particle aspect ratios and to linear order in the shear Reynolds
number. We show how inertial effects lift the degeneracy of the Jeffery orbits
and determine the stabilities of the log-rolling and tumbling orbits at
infinitesimal shear Reynolds numbers. For prolate spheroids we find stable
tumbling in the shear plane, log-rolling is unstable. For oblate particles, by
contrast, log-rolling is stable and tumbling is unstable provided that the
aspect ratio is larger than a critical value. When the aspect ratio is smaller
than this value tumbling turns stable, and an unstable limit cycle is born.
