2007-02-13 09:47:49 · 4 answers · asked by NUMBA 85 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
No, the orbits of Neptune and Pluto do not intersect. The two orbits lie in different planes. They approach each other to a minimum distance of 2.477 astronomical units, when Neptune is at heliocentric ecliptic longitude 278.19 degrees and when Pluto is at HEC long 278.29 degrees.
The two planets trade places with regard to which is the furthest from the sun, but the orbits themselves never intersect. (It just looks that way on a flat graph.)
2007-02-13 10:03:58 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
If you look down at the solar system from "above" or "below", the path traced by the orbits of Nepturne and Pluto appear to cross one another. However, the orbit of Pluto is tilted and does not lay in the same plane as the orbit of Neptune, so they don't actually intersect.
2007-02-13 18:02:44 · answer #2 · answered by Nostra da Moose 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes, astronomy is a 3-dimensional science. Unfortunately, most people cannot visualise in 3-D.
The orbits of Neptune and Pluto only intersect if you project them onto a flat surface.
2007-02-13 19:46:39 · answer #3 · answered by nick s 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes -- twice.
http://space.jpl.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/wspace?tbody=1000&vbody=1001&month=2&day=13&year=2007&hour=00&minute=00&fovmul=1&rfov=45&bfov=100&porbs=1&brite=1
.
2007-02-13 17:52:30 · answer #4 · answered by tlbs101 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋