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Sad Ganymede noises (mander.xyz)
submitted 10 months ago by to c/science_memes@mander.xyz
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[–] -1 points 10 months ago (8 children)

But how do we define what orbits what? On the scale from the Sun to Earth, the Moon orbits the Sun, just a litle more wobbly than the Earth's path, by litle I mean well below the error when we imagine the Erath's path as an elipse.

We can try to define if something goes around as orbiting, but If I pick two planet from our solar system one will goes around of the other, thechnically orbiting it? We can try to restricting the distance... but that is a problem as well, even worst idea that "nothing" comes in between: multiple moons? What about the moons' moons?

Ahhh, humans and their need to neatly categorize things...

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  • [–] 4 points 10 months ago (1 child)

    Just because 2 objects orbit around the same point doesn't mean they orbit each other. Your entire argument is flawed.

    We know what objects orbits each other because of the L4/L5 instability threshold.

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  • [–] 1 point 10 months ago

    I knew my argument was flawed, that was somewhat the point. I generally I don't think many ppl know about the Lagrange points. I know they are used to define what orbits what, but I don't have the knowledge yet to incorporate to my very flawed wordview.

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  • [–] 3 points 10 months ago (3 children)

    Help me understand the point you are trying to make. Are you trying to hand-waive categorization as superfluous to developing broader understanding?

    Natural satellites fall within the primary body's Hill sphere, where the gravity of the larger mass dominates. The Earth/Moon system co-orbits the sun. Saturn has two satellites that orbit each other, and that system co-orbits Saturn.

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  • [–] 2 points 10 months ago* (1 child)

    Not really, that was not my point. Just random thoughts shouted in the clouds. If I have to make a point, then I would say, categorizing things pretty hard, and the general populance understang and the scientific consensus about things are pretty far away.

    I know there are some points (L1-5) and they use that to define what orbits what, but I lost when I tried to research it without any pre-existing knowledge on the topic. I usually read some scientific communication, but they usually over simplify things. It's hard to shed the pre-existing view, replace it with a more correct one, then do it again and again.

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  • [–] 2 points 10 months ago

    Thanks for clarifying; I know tone is hard to convey on the internet. Sarcasm and "gotcha" replies have been the default tone since the beginning, even if that's not the poster's intent. I honestly was curious what you meant :)

    My favorite thing about this community is that while I come for the memes, there's almost always something new to learn in the comments. Or a knew line of inquiry where I can start looking into videos or articles to learn more.

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  • [–] 2 points 10 months ago (1 child)

    The point is on which influence yhe orjecy orbits another one. It's clear that the orbiy arround Earth of the Moon is influenced also by the Sun and in less way even by the other planets, but itt orbits the Earth and not these "influencers". Thedifference of orbit and gravitanional deviations is pretty clear.

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  • [–] 1 point 10 months ago

    I don't know how would you define 'influence'.

    If I fix the reference point to the (mass?) center of the sun, then observe the moon relative position to the sun, then I see that the influence of the moon's position is way grater than the Earth's. Would the Moon fly away from the orbit if the Earth stopped existing?

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