Fitting planetary orbits with a spreadsheet.

Details Fitting planetary orbits with a spreadsheet. Fitting planetary orbits with a spreadsheet.

Sep 1995

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1995phyed..30..266b&link_type=abstract

Physics Education, Vol. 30, No. 5, p. 266 - 271

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astronomy

1

Teaching In Astronomy: Celestial Mechanics

Scientific paper

The paper describes how, using a modern computer spreadsheet, it is possible to fit binocular observations of the planets to a theoretical model of circular orbits, from which fundamental data about the solar system may be deduced. Using nothing more than a pair of binoculars, a reasonably accurate star map and a modicum of patience, it is possible to find the periods and relative sizes of the orbits of Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn quite accurately from one's own observations. From these it is possible to illustrate Kepler's third law, and by implication the inverse square law of gravity, in operation on an interplanetary distance scale. With some further assumptions, it is possible to deduce the mass of the Sun.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Fitting planetary orbits with a spreadsheet. does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Fitting planetary orbits with a spreadsheet., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Fitting planetary orbits with a spreadsheet. will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-990037