Comments on: Next stop: Pluto (except it won’t stop) http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/02/28/next-stop-pluto-except-it-wont-stop/ I am an astronomer, writer, and skeptic. I likes reality the way it is, and I aims to keep it that way. My real name is Phil Plait, and I run the Bad Astronomy blog. Mon, 09 Nov 2009 06:25:47 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Mark Martin http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/02/28/next-stop-pluto-except-it-wont-stop/comment-page-1/#comment-31566 Mark Martin Thu, 01 Mar 2007 21:55:23 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/02/28/next-stop-pluto-except-it-wont-stop/#comment-31566 ...excuse me: *shorter* period. …excuse me: *shorter* period.

]]> By: Mark Martin http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/02/28/next-stop-pluto-except-it-wont-stop/comment-page-1/#comment-31550 Mark Martin Thu, 01 Mar 2007 21:19:10 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/02/28/next-stop-pluto-except-it-wont-stop/#comment-31550 Jack, you're correct about that. Jupiter has lost a tiny amount of its orbital energy, and has now entered into an orbit of slightly longer period and altered eccentricity. Jack, you’re correct about that. Jupiter has lost a tiny amount of its orbital energy, and has now entered into an orbit of slightly longer period and altered eccentricity.

]]> By: Tom http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/02/28/next-stop-pluto-except-it-wont-stop/comment-page-1/#comment-31565 Tom Thu, 01 Mar 2007 19:54:54 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/02/28/next-stop-pluto-except-it-wont-stop/#comment-31565 The easiest visualization (though not completely correct) of a slingshot is to think of throwing a ball against a railroad car that's standing still. That would be the same as throwing it against a wall. Now, get the car rolling towards you and throw the ball at it. The ball will pick up momentum from the car and the car will slow down a bit. Be sure to get out of the way of the car. (The author is not liable for those attempting this experiment and forgetting to get out of the way of the car) The easiest visualization (though not completely correct) of a slingshot is to think of throwing a ball against a railroad car that’s standing still. That would be the same as throwing it against a wall.

Now, get the car rolling towards you and throw the ball at it. The ball will pick up momentum from the car and the car will slow down a bit.

Be sure to get out of the way of the car.

(The author is not liable for those attempting this experiment and forgetting to get out of the way of the car)

]]> By: Jack Hagerty http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/02/28/next-stop-pluto-except-it-wont-stop/comment-page-1/#comment-31564 Jack Hagerty Thu, 01 Mar 2007 18:45:02 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/02/28/next-stop-pluto-except-it-wont-stop/#comment-31564 Lyc Says: "However, because Jupiter is also orbiting the sun, it is essentially ‘dragged’ along behind Jupiter. Jupiters ‘year’ grows a little bit longer " Doesn't Jupiter's "year" get a little shorter? By removing some of it's orbital energy it falls into a slightly lower orbit, which has a shorter period. - Jack Lyc Says: “However, because Jupiter is also orbiting the sun, it is essentially ‘dragged’ along behind Jupiter. Jupiters ‘year’ grows a little bit longer ”

Doesn’t Jupiter’s “year” get a little shorter? By removing some of it’s orbital energy it falls into a slightly lower orbit, which has a shorter period.

- Jack

]]> By: Jack Hagerty http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/02/28/next-stop-pluto-except-it-wont-stop/comment-page-1/#comment-31563 Jack Hagerty Thu, 01 Mar 2007 18:42:56 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/02/28/next-stop-pluto-except-it-wont-stop/#comment-31563 MattFunke Says: > >Jack Hagerty: “Everything in the space around the sun (or any other > > massive body) is constrained by physics to travel in an elliptical orbit. > Not so. That’s only if the velocity of the object in question is less than the > escape velocity of the Sun at its distance from the Sun." Yes, it was my unspoken assumption that NH was travelling at less than solar escape velocity. > New Horizons is currently traveling in a *hyperbolic* orbit, since > it is traveling at faster than solar escape velocity away from the Sun. Making it interstellar probe #5? - Jack MattFunke Says:
> >Jack Hagerty: “Everything in the space around the sun (or any other
> > massive body) is constrained by physics to travel in an elliptical orbit.

> Not so. That’s only if the velocity of the object in question is less than the
> escape velocity of the Sun at its distance from the Sun.”

Yes, it was my unspoken assumption that NH was travelling at less than solar escape velocity.

> New Horizons is currently traveling in a *hyperbolic* orbit, since
> it is traveling at faster than solar escape velocity away from the Sun.

Making it interstellar probe #5?

- Jack

]]> By: Kevin Klein http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/02/28/next-stop-pluto-except-it-wont-stop/comment-page-1/#comment-31559 Kevin Klein Thu, 01 Mar 2007 13:36:40 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/02/28/next-stop-pluto-except-it-wont-stop/#comment-31559 It seems rather obvious now. Thanks! It seems rather obvious now. Thanks!

]]> By: Tukla in Iowa http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/02/28/next-stop-pluto-except-it-wont-stop/comment-page-1/#comment-31560 Tukla in Iowa Thu, 01 Mar 2007 13:34:38 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/02/28/next-stop-pluto-except-it-wont-stop/#comment-31560 ===== A one time head of the patent bureau wanted to close the patent office ===== Little did he know that, a century later, you'd be able to patent just about anything that popped into your head. (Unfortunately, this story appears to be an urban legend. http://ask.yahoo.com/20050407.html ) ===== think of riding a bicycle and getting caught in the slip stream of a passing truck ===== Uh, I'd rather not, thanks. ::shudder:: =====
A one time head of the patent bureau wanted to close the patent office
=====

Little did he know that, a century later, you’d be able to patent just about anything that popped into your head.

(Unfortunately, this story appears to be an urban legend. http://ask.yahoo.com/20050407.html )

=====
think of riding a bicycle and getting caught in the slip stream of a passing truck
=====

Uh, I’d rather not, thanks. ::shudder::

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