Orbit
hideIn physics, an orbit is the gravitationally curved path of one object around a point or another body, for example the gravitational orbit of a planet around a star.
Historically, the apparent motion of the planets were first understood in terms of epicycles, which are the sums of numerous circular motions. This predicted the path of the planets quite well, until Johannes Kepler was able to show that the motion of the planets were in fact elliptical motions.[citation needed] Isaac Newton was able to prove that this was equivalent to an inverse square, instantaneously propagating force he called gravitation.[citation needed] Albert Einstein later was able to show that gravity is due to curvature of space-time, and that orbits lie upon geodesics. This is the current understanding.
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News tagged with orbit
GOES-P satellite preparing for launch in March 2010
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Oct 16, 2009 |
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Just two months after the successful launch of the GOES-O spacecraft, now called GOES-14 in orbit, the NASA team removed the GOES-P spacecraft from storage and commenced its post storage testing. GOES-P is ...
Largest Ring Around Saturn Discovered
Oct 07, 2009 |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope has discovered an enormous ring around Saturn -- by far the largest of the giant planet's many rings.
The Hot Saturn Exoplanet
Oct 02, 2009 |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- Of the roughly 350 known exoplanets (i.e., extrasolar planets), the one orbiting the star HD149026 is unique.
Ganymede makes big impression on Jupiter's auroral lightshows (w/ Video)
Sep 18, 2009 |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- Studies of features in Jupiter’s spectacular and rapidly changing aurorae have given new insights into the complex electromagnetic interactions between the giant planet and two of its innermost ...
New NASA temperature maps provide 'whole new way of seeing the moon'
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Sep 17, 2009 |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- NASA's first-ever moon temperature-mapping effort has returned its first data.
Space station crew grabs new cargo ship from orbit
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Sep 17, 2009 |
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(AP) -- A brand new Japanese space station cargo ship has arrived at its destination 225 miles above Earth.
New Transient Radiation Belt Discovered at Saturn
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Sep 14, 2009 |
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Scientists using the Cassini spacecraft's Magnetospheric Imaging instrument (MIMI) have detected a new, temporary radiation belt at Saturn, located around the orbit of its moon Dione at about 377 000 km ...
Bad weather further stalls shuttle landing
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Sep 11, 2009 |
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(AP) -- Bad weather in Florida has stalled space shuttle Discovery's landing once more.
Space shuttle dodges debris on way home to Earth
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Sep 10, 2009 |
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(AP) -- NASA has moved the shuttle Discovery out of the way of a mystery piece of orbiting junk and is hoping for a scheduled landing on Earth.
ESA preparing 'sugar-cube' gyro sensors for future missions
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Sep 09, 2009 |
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One of ESA's future Earth observation missions will monitor its orientation in space with the help of the smallest gyro ever flown by the Agency. Now being tested, the sugar cube-sized device at the heart ...
Space shuttle and crew aim for Thursday landing
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Sep 09, 2009 |
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(AP) -- Shuttle Discovery's astronauts aimed for a Thursday evening landing to wrap up their successful space station delivery mission, but late summer storms threatened to keep them up an extra day or two.
Scientists cool gas by laser bombardment
Sep 02, 2009 |
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Three decades ago, American and Finnish scientists came up with a very powerful method for cooling gases by "laser bombardment." Only now were physicists at the University of Bonn able to demonstrate that it actually works. ...
Astronauts gear up for first spacewalk of mission
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Sep 01, 2009 |
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(AP) -- It's moving and spacewalking day in orbit.
Ariane 5 places Japan, Australia satellites in orbit
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Aug 22, 2009 |
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An Ariane 5 rocket successfully placed communications satellites into geostationary orbit on Friday for Japan's SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation and Australian operator Optus, according to Arianespace.
China's first Mars orbiter in Russia for launch: state media
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Aug 06, 2009 |
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China's first satellite to probe Mars has been transported to Russia for a launch later this year, state media reported Thursday.
