@SoEFleX The eccentricity of the Earth's orbit is currently about 0.0167, meaning that the Earth's orbit is nearly circular, the semiminor axis is 99.98% of the semimajor axis. But ya know, that's just science.
interesting, thanks for uploading. can you explain why the asteroid gets 'knocked' into a superior orbit by Earth - does the Earth's gravity not have the effect of attracting such objects?
@goonerjack Yes! Earth's gravity affects the objects that approach it, and keep in mind that the Sun is incredibly massive and exerts gravitational forces as well! So, when something in a similar orbit appraches Earth, it sort of "takes over" the path and bumps everybody else out of the way, like a fat dude on a bus! Thanks for asking :)
@SoEFleX The eccentricity of the Earth's orbit is currently about 0.0167, meaning that the Earth's orbit is nearly circular, the semiminor axis is 99.98% of the semimajor axis. But ya know, that's just science.
pjwho 7 months ago
interesting, thanks for uploading. can you explain why the asteroid gets 'knocked' into a superior orbit by Earth - does the Earth's gravity not have the effect of attracting such objects?
goonerjack 10 months ago
@goonerjack Yes! Earth's gravity affects the objects that approach it, and keep in mind that the Sun is incredibly massive and exerts gravitational forces as well! So, when something in a similar orbit appraches Earth, it sort of "takes over" the path and bumps everybody else out of the way, like a fat dude on a bus! Thanks for asking :)
pjwho 3 months ago