2007-01-20 05:55:57 · 2 answers · asked by goring 6 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
As a starting point, please note that the term is "perihelion" (from the root -helios, the sun) rather than perehelium.
As with many astronomical issues, there are only theories which happen to fit the facts. It is known that the orbits of all planets (which are ellipses rather than circles) precess.
"The Perihelion Advance of Mercury is perhaps the most discussed of all in the solar system, in part due to its high eccentricity and visibility. Whilst the other inner planets, Mars, Earth, and Venus, are more predictable, Mercury has defied a satisfactory equational description for several centuries. German school teacher, Paul Gerber, first devised an equation that ploted mercury's eccentric orbit and used 18 years later by Einstein used in 1898. Hoever, the equation lacked a mechanism. It is possibel hover to evolve Geber's eqaution from Carezani's Pico-Graviton Mechanism Pico-Graviton absorption-mass increase."
Is this the "real reason"? Hmmmm........
2007-01-20 06:13:38 · answer #1 · answered by Tim P. 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Rotating masses drag space time around with them. This causes the perihelion to 'apparently precess'.
It is only easy to check that the amount of precession fits with Einstein's GR equations for this one body as Mercury has an eccentric elliptical orbit. The other planets close to the sun have eliptical orbits which are almost circular.
There is a late report of somebody calculating precession anaomoly on a satellite around Mars - but the corrections are large!
CopyLeft:RC
2007-01-20 17:55:03 · answer #2 · answered by Rufus Cat 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋