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How is the orbital path of a comet like the orbital path of the planets?
Wiki User
∙ 10y ago
All orbits are ellipses; this is true for both planets and for comets.
Cometary orbits are somewhat extreme ellipses, where the difference between the perihelion (closest to the Sun) is very different from the aphelion (farthest from the Sun) distance. This difference is called "eccentricity". Planets have relatively low eccentricity; for Earth, for example, the eccentricity is only 3%.
Some comets don't have an "orbit" at all. An "orbit" implies that the comet will eventually come back. But some comets are "hyperbolic"; their paths aren't an ellipse, but a hyperbola. A hyperbolic comet is a one-time visitor to the solar system; it has fallen in from interstellar space, and will be going back out to interstellar space.
Wiki User
∙ 10y ago
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How do the orbital inclinations of the inner planets compare with those of the outer ones?
The average orbital path of the planets forms the elliptic plane. The two inner planets have the greatest deviation from the path, with Mercury at 7.01 degrees and Venus at 3.39 degrees.
What is path that a planet travels on around the sun called?
Planets have elliptical orbits around the sun.
Why do the outer planets in the Solar System have much longer year lengths than the inner planets?
There are two reasons. First, since they are farther from the sun they have longer orbital path. Second at a greater distance from the sun the sun's gravity is weaker, giving the outer planets a slower orbital speed.
Why do planets follow circular orbital paths?
Well actually, not all of the planets move in a perfect circle. Uranus's orbital path is effected by the gravitational pull from Neptune. But the planets move in a orbital path because of the gravitational pull from the sun. Since the sun is circular, they move around the sun, so that's why they move in a orbital path.
What is a synonym for an orbital path?
Orbit
What does Pluto have that planets don't?
Pluto has asteroids in its orbital path. Planets don't.
How do the orbital inclinations of the inner planets compare with those of the outer ones?
The average orbital path of the planets forms the elliptic plane. The two inner planets have the greatest deviation from the path, with Mercury at 7.01 degrees and Venus at 3.39 degrees.
Is Haley's comet coming in 2009?
Halley's Comet is following its long orbital path. It is currently a little past the orbit of Neptune, and is not visible.
A comet orbits the sun in what kind of path?
Elliptical paths, just like planets. Typically, but not always, with greater eccentricity.
What is path that a planet travels on around the sun called?
Planets have elliptical orbits around the sun.
What is comet made of?
A comet is often described by Astronomers as a 'Dirty Snowball'. This is because a comet comprises of Ice, from frozen gases mixed with dust and other particulate matter, collected on its orbital path.
How is it possible for an asteroid or comet to cut directly across earths orbital path but not hit earth?
The Earth and the asteroid could be at a different points in the path.
What criteria Pluto doesn't fullfill for planets?
Pluto is unable to clear its orbital path of debris.
What is Venus' path?
Venus' orbital path is the most circular of all the planets. The eccentricity of the orbit of Venus is less than 0.01.
What are the member of the solar system thst follow or move to its orbit?
All massive objects in the solar system feel the gravitational influence of their primary and most follow an orbital path around it - the majority of the mass orbiting the Sun, including planets, asteroids, comets, etc. A common orbital path, such as the planets follow, is shaped like an ellipse with the Sun at the ellipse's focus. Moons which orbit planets follow a smaller orbital path around their primary (for example, the Earth's Moon follows a path around Earth which it completes in about a month). If objects felt mutual gravitational pull of another object but did not have sufficient relative orbital momentum, they would collide.
Are the planets in your solar system about the same distance apart?
No because the distance between them are always changing. If you were trying to ask if the orbital paths of all the planets about the same distance apart then the answer is still no. The distance from each orbital path varies from each planet to the next. The orbital path of Neptune and Pluto cross one another so this also answers the question, no.
Do stars have moons like planets do?
No. An object orbiting a star would not be called a moon. If an object orbiting a star is large enough and is the dominant object in its orbital path, then it is considered a planet. A similar object that does not dominate its orbital path is a dwarf planet. Smaller objects may be called asteroids or comets.
