All Questions
Tagged with planetary-science orbital-mechanics
11 questions
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Can astronomical objects repel other bodies if they have a sufficiently strong magnetic field?
I was wondering whether an astronomical object (a planet, a star, a neutron star, a magnetar...) with a sufficiently strong magnetic field could repel another object (like a planet, an asteroid...), ...
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Under which conditions could a planet's massive moon's orbit get closer to the planet?
The recent question How do we know the Moon was much closer than it is now? has piqued my interest. The answers are numerous and clear. But I started to wonder. The question includes the following ...
- 30.7k
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Concerning a binary system of stars/planets/black holes could one of them be ejected before eventually merging or colliding?
I was having a discussion with an undergraduate student of physics about binaries and their interactions with external celestial bodies (which could cause the ejection of one of the members in the ...
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3
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Will all satellites get inevitably tidally locked to their planet?
Are there cases or conditions in which an object orbiting another one (e.g. a satellite and its planet) does not get tidally locked to it?
For example, in this question, it is mentioned that a large ...
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4
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2
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Radio signals between Mercury and the Moon during an eclipse
This is a hypothetical question. Thank you for your time and efforts.
A signal is sent from a transmitter on Mercury's surface while it is at its greatest western or eastern elongation. The signal is ...
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If 16 million kilometers were added to Earth's semi-major axis, what measurable effect would there be on Mars' orbit?
I have some education in astronomy, but nothing extensive in astrophysics. I can follow mathematical procedure with assistance. Procedural responses are most welcome!
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What are the orbital velocities of the other planets? For objects in a 'Low-Earth-Orbit' around planets other than Earth, e.g.?
I was pondering this question recently, but most sites I can find only mention the speeds/velocities of the planets around the Sun when I look for 'orbital velocities' of the planets.
I tried ...
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If the Earth became tidally locked with the moon, would that last forever?
If the Earth and the moon became tidally locked, would this last theoretically forever (assuming no external gravitational force modifies their orbits, for example, ignoring the effects caused by the ...
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3
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Can we learn anything from the chaotic movement of Hydra and Nix?
The NASA Visualization Explorer Moons In Chaos says Hydra and Nix, two of the moons of Pluto, show chaotic movement due to the shifting gravitational field.
How long a day lasts and where the sun ...
6
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Do moons of rocky oblate planets migrate to low inclination over time? If so, does the time it takes depend on the Moon's size?
Discussions elsewhere suggest that this happens and that smaller moons would tend to low inclination with respect to the planet's equator faster than larger ones.
For example, Mars' small moons are ...
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Binary planet orbital distance
From reading various sources online, I see that some people talk about binary planets in very tight orbits (around 1 or 2 planet radii). I am wondering if it is possible for a binary planet (Double ...
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