It was back in grade school when I believe they told me that sometimes Neptune and Pluto switch orbits. Is that true or just another myth. If it was true then doesn't Neptune also have an irregular orbit and why does Neptune have such an irregular orbit. Why is Neptune not part of the planet debate if it has an irregular orbit? I am confused.
2006-08-16 03:25:27 · 9 answers · asked by The One Truth 4 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
no, they dont switch orbits, but their orbits DO actually cross, so that for a few hundred years or so, Pluto is closer to the sun than Neptune
2006-08-16 03:31:23 · answer #1 · answered by greengunge 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Neptune and Pluto do no longer swap orbits each 20 years. Pluto's orbit is amazingly eccentric, and for a 20 3 hundred and sixty 5 days era it truly is in course of the solar than Neptune is. there is inspite of the undeniable fact that a resonance between them. Pluto takes 248 years to orbit the solar once, and Neptune takes one hundred sixty 5 years to stay with adventure. meaning for each 3 revolutions Neptune completes Pluto does 2. This has the end results of preserving both planets some distance except for an additional, in fact Pluto receives a lot in course of Uranus than Neptune. the very actuality the Pluto's orbital airplane is tilted 17 stages with understand to the ecliptic also serves to save it out of Neptune's course.
2016-11-25 20:46:34 · answer #2 · answered by beat 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Here's a site with a good picture and explanation:
http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/pluto/pluto_orbit.html
From 1979 to 1999 Pluto was closer to the Sun than Neptune was. Now it will remain farther for about 2 centuries. And as others have said, Pluto is the screwed up one, Neptune's orbit is quite normal.
BTW - Neptune and Pluto will never collide. If you look at their orbits in 3 dimensions, they don't actually touch each other.
2006-08-16 03:47:24 · answer #3 · answered by kris 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. Sometimes Neptune and Pluto interchange positions in the solar system making Pluto the 8th spot and neptune the 9th. They don't actually "change orbits" but their odd shapes cross paths. It has to do with teh irregular shape of the orbits and the gravitational pull of the sun
2006-08-16 03:31:29 · answer #4 · answered by bigred8882 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pluto was the 8th planet from 1979 to 1999
Pluto has a highly angled elliptical orbit that brings it closer than the Sun for a short time
Neptune's orbit is regular
2006-08-17 11:49:42 · answer #5 · answered by ShiningCrimson 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, pluto's orbit is not exactly elptical, kind of oval shaped and for a brief period of time it comes closer to the sun the neptune does.
2006-08-16 03:30:41 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Neptune is regular, it's Pluto that is different. It's orbit is somewhat more ovular, so it will cross with Neptunes every so often.
2006-08-16 03:32:04 · answer #7 · answered by Southpaw 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
its very true, their orbits overlap, now, the farthest from the sun is pluto but eventually, neptune will be the farthest, then pluto again
2006-08-16 03:45:00 · answer #8 · answered by harry 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No.
2006-08-16 03:30:09 · answer #9 · answered by ErC 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋