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orbit
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Earth's orbit
Understand how the Earth remain stable in orbit around the sun
What causes the seasons?
Planet's orbital plane in relation to the ecliptic Anomaly A-aphelion; B-perihelion; C-centre of the orbit; E-eccentric anomaly; P-planet; S-Sun; V-true anomaly satellite orbits effects of gravity on the Moon and Earth A Poincaré section, or mapThe trajectory, or orbit, of an object x is sampled periodically, as indicated by the blue disk. The rate of change for the object is determined for each intersection of its orbit with the disk, as shown by P(x) and P2(x). This set of values can then be used to analyze the long-term stability of the system. For contrast, note the perfectly periodic orbit of the point o, as indicated by o = P(o).
Study how Earth's gravity influences the Moon in maintaining its rotation in sync, with one side forever facing Earth
Learn about Io, Jupiter's moon with the most active volcanoes in the solar system
Quizzes
View of the Andromeda Galaxy (Messier 31, M31).
Astronomy and Space Quiz
The orbits of the planets and other elements of the solar system, including asteroids, Kuiper belt, Oort cloud, comet
Space Odyssey
Nicolaus Copernicus. Nicolas Copernicus (1473-1543) Polish astronomer. In 1543 he published, forward proof of a Heliocentric (sun centered) universe. Coloured stipple engraving published London 1802. De revolutionibus orbium coelestium libri vi.
All About Astronomy
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orbit: Related Content

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Photos and Videos

Earth's orbit
Planet's orbital plane in relation to the ecliptic
Anomaly A-aphelion; B-perihelion; C-centre of the orbit; E-eccentric anomaly; P-planet; S-Sun; V-true anomaly
satellite orbits
effects of gravity on the Moon and Earth
A Poincaré section, or mapThe trajectory, or orbit, of an object x is sampled periodically, as indicated by the blue disk. The rate of change for the object is determined for each intersection of its orbit with the disk, as shown by P(x) and P2(x). This set of values can then be used to analyze the long-term stability of the system. For contrast, note the perfectly periodic orbit of the point o, as indicated by o = P(o).
Understand how the Earth remain stable in orbit around the sun
What causes the seasons?
Study how Earth's gravity influences the Moon in maintaining its rotation in sync, with one side forever facing Earth
Learn about Io, Jupiter's moon with the most active volcanoes in the solar system
Learn more about the Nice model of solar system evolution and how samples brought back from the Moon fit within it
See All Videos and Images →

Related Topics and References

Topics
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Key People

Carl Friedrich Gauss
Carl Friedrich Gauss
German mathematician
Edmond Halley
Edmond Halley
British scientist
Urbain-Jean-Joseph Le Verrier
French astronomer
Boscovich, detail of a portrait by an unknown artist; in Dubrovnik Cloister, Croatia
Ruggero Giuseppe Boscovich
Italian astronomer and mathematician
Jean-Baptiste-Gaspard Bochart de Saron
French scientist
Peter Andreas Hansen, detail from a lithograph by Rudolf Hoffmann, 1856
Peter Andreas Hansen
German astronomer
Pierre Mechain
French scientist

Related Quizzes and Features

Quiz
View of the Andromeda Galaxy (Messier 31, M31).
Astronomy and Space Quiz
The orbits of the planets and other elements of the solar system, including asteroids, Kuiper belt, Oort cloud, comet
Space Odyssey
Nicolaus Copernicus. Nicolas Copernicus (1473-1543) Polish astronomer. In 1543 he published, forward proof of a Heliocentric (sun centered) universe. Coloured stipple engraving published London 1802. De revolutionibus orbium coelestium libri vi.
All About Astronomy