If yes, could you please give me proof ('cause I have a project, and I need the site I got my information from)
Thanks ~ XD
2007-11-21 12:27:08 · 11 answers · asked by [ פֿøҝ€®] 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
NO, they don't "switch" orbits. However, for about 20 years out of Pluto's 248 year orbit, Pluto is closer to the Sun than Neptune is. (This last happened from Feb. 1979 until Feb. 1999).
The plane of Pluto's orbit is tilted with respect to the plane of Neptune's orbit, so their orbital paths don't ever actually cross each other (so they're not going to collide or anything).
2007-11-21 13:19:08 · answer #1 · answered by kyeri y 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Neptune and Pluto do not switch orbits every 20 years. Pluto's orbit is very eccentric, and for a 20 year period it is closer to the Sun than Neptune is. There is however a resonance between them. Pluto takes 248 years to orbit the Sun once, and Neptune takes 165 years to follow suit. That means for every three revolutions Neptune completes Pluto does two. This has the effect of keeping both planets far apart from each other, in fact Pluto gets much closer to Uranus than Neptune. The fact the Pluto's orbital plane is tilted 17 degrees with respect to the ecliptic also serves to keep it out of Neptune's path.
2007-11-21 12:38:54 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
No, that is not true at all.
Pluto does sometimes come closer to the Sun than Neptune, but it is not as often as every 20- years and it is not "switching orbits" with Neptune.
2007-11-21 13:18:08 · answer #3 · answered by campbelp2002 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is not true. The two planets don't switch orbits, Pluto just interferes with Neptune's oribt. Then Pluto becomes closer to the Sun. If you need a site, type in "Wikipedia: Neptune" or "Wikipedia: Pluto." I know it's not the most reliable site, but it's all I got.
2007-11-21 13:52:01 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
It's more than 20 mate lol.
248 for Pluto and 165 for Neptune.
2007-11-22 05:31:12 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, it's just for a 20-year period (from 1979 to 1999) that Pluto's orbit was inside the orbit of Neptune's, (and won't be again until March, 2227).
2007-11-21 15:38:59 · answer #6 · answered by David H. 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No. That is not true. Pluto stays in Pluto's orbit, and Neptune stays in Neptune's orbit.
Pluto's orbit approaches to Neptune's orbit by a minimum distance of 2.48 AU, at heliocentric ecliptic longitude 278.3 degrees for Pluto's orbit and 278.2 degrees for Neptune's. However, the two planets seldom get within 18 AU of each other because of the way their motions are timed in their respective orbits.
(I'm getting a distance of 16.6 AU between Pluto and Neptune in the year 4477, but that's too far in the future to depend on orbital elements minted in 2000.0.)
Pluto's closest possible approach to Uranus is 12.12 AU, when Pluto is at heliocentric ecliptic longitude 252.7 degrees and Uranus is at heliocentric ecliptic longitude 253.5 degrees.
2007-11-21 12:59:14 · answer #7 · answered by elohimself 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
No, Pluto's orbit is partially inside Neptune's orbit, but they do not switch orbits.
2007-11-21 12:53:47 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Actually, Pluto's orbit is eliptical and goes below Neptunes orbit.
Your picture is here:
http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/pluto/pluto_orbit.html
For other interesting orbits go to:
http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/orbits/
2007-11-21 12:33:14 · answer #9 · answered by autoglide 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
specific. in specific circumstances Neptune and Pluto interchange positions in the image voltaic device making Pluto the 8th spot and neptune the 9th. they do no longer easily "substitute orbits" yet their unusual shapes bypass paths. It has to do with teh odd shape of the orbits and the gravitational pull of the sunlight
2016-11-12 09:03:55 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋