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
Critical turning point can trigger abrupt climate change
Space & Earth / Earth Sciences
Apr 20, 2009 |
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Ice ages are the greatest natural climate changes in recent geological times. Their rise and fall are caused by slight changes in the Earth's orbit around the Sun due to the influence of the other planets. But we do not know ...
Predicted Planet Seen -- First Since Neptune 162 Years Ago
Dec 09, 2008 |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- In 2006, astronomer Alice Quillen of the University of Rochester predicted that a planet of a particular size and orbit must lie within the dust of a nearby star. That planet has now been photographed by ...
Largest Ring Around Saturn Discovered
Oct 07, 2009 |
4.7 / 5 (32) |
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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.
How to deflect asteroids and save the Earth
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Apr 16, 2009 |
4.6 / 5 (20) |
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You may want to thank David French in advance. Because, in the event that a comet or asteroid comes hurtling toward Earth, he may be the guy responsible for saving the entire planet.
Gravity wells could provide 'parking lots' for spaceships
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Jul 15, 2009 |
4.4 / 5 (19) |
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Nature has provided five huge rest stops far out in space for the convenience of spacecraft traveling from Earth. Some NASA folks call them "parking lots" in space.
New NASA temperature maps provide 'whole new way of seeing the moon'
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Sep 17, 2009 |
4.9 / 5 (14) |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- NASA's first-ever moon temperature-mapping effort has returned its first data.
Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter to Help Astronauts Survive in Infinity
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Apr 17, 2009 |
4.9 / 5 (12) |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- Space seems exotic, forbidding, and remote, but imagine trying to survive winter without a heated shelter or warm clothing. Our ancestors developed these technologies because they needed room ...
Coolest spacecraft ever in orbit around L2
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Jul 03, 2009 |
4.7 / 5 (11) |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- Last night, the detectors of Planck's High Frequency Instrument reached their amazingly low operational temperature of -273°C, making them the coldest known objects in space. The spacecraft ...
GPS System Could Start Failing by Next Year
May 20, 2009 |
3.9 / 5 (13) |
11
(PhysOrg.com) -- A federal watchdog agency has warned the U.S. Congress that the GPS system could start failing in 2010 and beyond. Due to delays in launching replacement satellites and other circumstances, ...
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.
LROC's first look at the Apollo landing sites
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Jul 17, 2009 |
4.9 / 5 (9) |
4
The imaging system on board NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) recently had its first of many opportunities to photograph the Apollo landing sites. The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC) imaged ...
Double engine for a nebula
Aug 05, 2009 |
4.6 / 5 (9) |
8
(PhysOrg.com) -- The new image, showing a very rich field of stars towards the Carina arm of the Milky Way, is centred on the star HD 87643, a member of the exotic class of B[e] stars [1]. It is part of a ...
Galileo's notebooks may reveal secrets of new planet
Jul 09, 2009 |
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Galileo knew he had discovered a new planet in 1613, 234 years before its official discovery date, according to a new theory by a University of Melbourne physicist.
Near miss, but no threat: Asteroid in close pass was smaller than thought, astronomer shows
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Mar 17, 2009 |
4.5 / 5 (8) |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- On March 2, an asteroid whizzed past the Earth at a distance of just 41,000 miles -- a near miss by cosmic standards (most communications satellites orbit at a distance of about 22,300 miles from Earth). ...
Chandrayaan-1 now in lunar orbit
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Nov 10, 2008 |
4.9 / 5 (7) |
0
(PhysOrg.com) -- Chandrayaan-1, the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) lunar orbiter, was captured into orbit around the Moon on 8 November. One day later, the spacecraft performed a manoeuvre that ...
