I need to find the mass of Neptune and I have this data:
Planet Neptune , at closest approach , is about 29.1AU from Earth.
At that distance, Neptunes Angular Diameter is 2.3"
It's moon Triton moves in a circular orbit with an angular dimater of 33.6"
abd a period of 5.9 days.
So I know to use a modified version of Keplers law to get the mass but the
Angular diameters are setting me off...I don't know how they fit in!
Please help me!
2006-10-25 17:35:31 · 2 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
You can find the mass of Neptune, plus all other known facts, here:
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/astronomy/planets/neptune/
hope this helps
2006-10-26 07:17:15 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can use the angles to find the actual distance between Neptune and Triton, since you need the radius of Triton's orbit and the period of its orbit to find the mass of Neptune.
Use the distance between Earth and Neptune and the angular diameter of Triton's orbit to find the actual diameter of Triton's orbit, using a little trigonometry. Then of course divide by two for the radius! I think Neptune's angular diameter was just given to throw you off.
2006-10-26 10:01:57 · answer #2 · answered by kris 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋