The Solar System's Barycenter

The Sun and solar system orbit a barycenter (center of mass) that occasionally will go slightly above the sun's surface. This is due to the pull of the planets (though mostly Jupiter). See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Center_of_mass#Barycenter_in_astrophysics_and_as... for more info.

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People & Blogs

Tags:

• barycenter
• solar system barycenter
• solar system center of mass

[SynMonger]

So what software is this? I'd love to see the Earth-Moon system barycenter modeled like this.

[redditapuent]

@SynMonger Celestia

[IQuaereVerum2]

@Kylyky2 Around the ss Barycentre

[Ninjablader9]

This looks like celestia and if it is how do you make it spin like that?

[Kylyky2]

So do the planets orbit around the centre of the sun or around the solar system barycenter?

[orlyyarlynowai]

I always assumed the solar system's barycenter was always within the sun. I learned better within the past week or so - on Reddit, which I'm sure is no coincidence.