Do the orbits of any of our nine planets change, or do the planets always follow the same paths?

Answer 1

Planets remain on stable orbits only within the Keplerian approximation, that is, assuming that the Sun is unmoving and the planets do not interact each other. This is a rough model, only useful to simplify the math of celestial mechanics.

In reality, each single massive body (Sun, planets, moons, comets, asteroids) interacts with each other, leading to a system of intractable complexity, composed of several thousands objects. Even an oversimplified system of just 3 bodies (example: Sun, Earth, Moon) is in fact not solvable exactly (there are many good approximations, but not an exact solution).

Therefore, strictly speaking, there is no such thing as a closed orbit that will be stable forever, because any object disturbs slightly the motion of each other.

The interesting problem here is not assessing stability forever, but estimating the minimum time required to scramble an orbit given the current conditions (because orbits will be scrambled for sure, given sufficient time). Here we enter in the theory of stability, an advanced branch of mathematics and the issue is quite open.

In any case, be reassured that the times we are speaking about (estimated with Nekhoroshev-like theorems) are in the order of no less than billion years.

Answer 2

"any object in motion remains in motion until acted on by another force"
or in other words they go in the same path until something hits them or pulls them in a different direction, for example if a large star passed close enough to the solar system them it could pull every orbiting object away from our sun, a little further away and it would just turn every orbit into a egg shaped path that would never "normalize" but then the earth already travels in a egg shaped orbit, one theory why is that one of the larger planets in the solar system pull the earth away each time the orbits come near each other, and then the earth moves back as the other planet passes. sort of like a very slow motion bungee jump, it takes a while for things to settle, but in our case there is energy being thrown into the system constantly so where you are today is not exactly where you will be this exact time next year

Answer 3

each and all the planets different than one orbit in extra or less the comparable airplane. There are ordinary adjustments, yet not lots which you will possibly observe in case you're able to view the full photograph voltaic equipment at as quickly as. the only exception to it extremely is Pluto, which has an excentric orbit (not an elliptical one, Scruff; each and all the planets have elliptical orbits). The airplane of Pluto's orbit is at an attitude to the widespread orbital airplane of something of the planets. yet of course now that Pluto could be downgraded from the status of planet, the respond to your question will surely verify.

Answer 4

The orbits of the planets change slightly over long periods of time do to gravitational interactions with other planets, especially Jupiter.

There is a theory on long term climate change that is based on the Milankovitch Cycles. In particular, it deals with when conditions are favorable or unfavorable for glaciation on the earth. One of the Milankovitch Cycles is the Earth's eccentricity. In other words it deals with how the earth's orbit changes over time.

This link will provide you with a discussion on all three cycles.

http://www.homepage.montana.edu/~geol445/hyperglac/time1/milankov.htm

Answer 5

The orbits do change over time - they precess. In Mercury's case the difference between the observed and calculated precession led people to think there had to be another planet, closer to the sun. It turned out that there were relatavistic effects that had to be taken into account - hence the precession of Mercury's orbit is one of the pieces of evidence that supports relativity.

Answer 6

yes.there is lots of evidence from the scientists. The reason is sun attracts all its revolving planets towards it.Moreover,it been predicted that our earth itself moving towards the sun from its previous orbital path by a few inches.If this state persists, it will not be possible for us survive in earth after a few billion years,since our earth may get collapsed by colliding with the giant fire wheel, the SUN .

Answer 7

they do change day to day but the path is the same over the year. if it wobbles it usually repeats that wobble every year, though some are not exact.

Answer 8

They change slightly, due to interactions with other planets (especially Jupiter).

Answer 9

they follow the same paths

Answer 10

They are always changing, though ever so slightly. There is no true constant in this physical realm