How to find Heliocentric latitude data for each planet?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around finding heliocentric latitude data for planets, specifically how to determine their positions in relation to the Sun's equator over time. Participants explore various methods and tools for obtaining this data, as well as the concept of planetary motion and its implications on latitude positioning.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant seeks tools or software to track the heliocentric latitude of planets, particularly Mercury, over specific dates in 2021.
  • Another participant suggests using NASA's JPL Horizons System to obtain heliocentric longitude and latitude data, although it does not automatically provide minimum and maximum values.
  • A participant questions how the lowest or highest positions of planets relative to the Sun's equator change over time, inquiring about the period for a complete rotation of these positions.
  • One response explains the precession of the perihelion and distinguishes it from the precession of the Earth's axis, noting the long timescale involved.
  • Another participant introduces the concept of precession of nodes and suggests that the lowest and highest positions of planets may also rotate, but this is contested.
  • There is mention of orbital inclination as a potential relevant factor, with a suggestion to search for more information on it.
  • Participants discuss the rotation of orbits in space, noting that while nodes and antinodes rotate together, apsides do not necessarily follow the same pattern, citing specific timeframes for the Moon's motion.
  • One participant requests information on the time it takes for node rotation of planets and where to find more details online.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on whether the lowest and highest positions of planets rotate in relation to the Sun's equator. While some agree that orbits rotate together, others challenge this notion, particularly regarding apsides and nodes.

Contextual Notes

There are unresolved questions regarding the specific timeframes for the rotation of planetary nodes and the effects of perturbations on these motions. The discussion includes various assumptions about the relationships between different orbital elements.

Mikael17
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TL;DR
How to find Planet Heliocentric latitude data ?
Does anyone know where to find information (or software or calculator) able to show on which days / time (2021) where Mercury (and other planets) are as low/high as possible on the heliocentric latitude

For example: like the animation seen in the link below.

The problem with this site is that the animation runs too fast, - so it is not possible to stop it at the time you want.
 
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Hello @Mikael17 ael17,

Welcome to PF! :welcome:

You might find NASA's JPL's Horizons System useful.

https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/horizons/app.html#/

  • Pick you favorite planet for the "Target Body."
  • Pick whatever location you like for the "Observer Location" (I don't think it matters for this particular case, if I'm interpreting the system correctly [I've never actually used it for this myself]).
  • Edit the "Table Settings" where you will find a checkbox labeled,"Heliocentric ecliptic lon. & lat." and check it.

When it generates the table for your specified "Time Specification" settings, a couple of the columns will be the Heliocentric longitude and latitude.

Heliocentric latitude is what I assume you're interested in here.

330px-Heliocentric_rectangular_ecliptic.png

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecliptic_coordinate_system

It won't spit out the minimum and maximum for you automatically, but you should be able to find them by playing around with it.
 
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I have one more question, and that is: - how much the planets' lowest (or highest) position in the sky "rotates" (relative to the Sun's Equator) - through time.

Example: - let's say that the Earth's lowest position relative to the Sun's equator is March 1st this year.

I imagine that there is a rotation of this lowest (and highest) possible position and therefore that this date (March 1st ) changes every year.

How long a period does it takes for a complete one "rotation" (360°) of such "lowest position".

Same question for the other planets in the solar system. - Where can this information be found?

What is such a "rotation" called?
 
The Earh's orbit is basically fixed in space, but it does rotate slowly. This is called the precession of the perihelion. This is not to be confused with the precession of the Earth's axis, which takes about 26,000 years to complete a cycle. The precession of the perihelion, which is what you are asking about, for the Earth is about 5 arcseconds/century, which means it takes about 25 million years to complete a full rotation.
 
Precession of perihelion I understand.

The question is: what about planets lowest (or highest) position in the sky (relative to the Sun's Equator) - ( planet latitude) Does these planets lowest (or highest) position rotate too , - or are these always pointing to the same direction.
 
There is the precession of nodes, too.
 
Mikael17 said:
Precession of perihelion I understand.

The question is: what about planets lowest (or highest) position in the sky (relative to the Sun's Equator) - ( planet latitude) Does these planets lowest (or highest) position rotate too , - or are these always pointing to the same direction.
The whole orbit rotates in space. So the position of the perihelion, the position of the nodes and the positions of the highest and lowest points all rotate together. This is the ideal case. In the real solar system, other perturbations affect things on this time scale. For example, the eccentricity of the Earth's orbit changes on much shorter time scales.
 
phyzguy said:
The whole orbit rotates in space. So the position of the perihelion, the position of the nodes and the positions of the highest and lowest points all rotate together.
No.
Nodes and antinodes inherently do rotate together. But this is not the case with apsides.
Case - Moon. Moon´s nodes and antinodes complete a circle in 18,6 years. Moon´s apsides in 8,85 years.
 
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snorkack said:
No.
Nodes and antinodes inherently do rotate together.
How long time does "node rotaion" of the planets of the solar system take ?, and where on the internet is it more to read about it ?
 

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