How was Voyager 2 used to determine the orbits of Uranus and Neptune?

Thread starter Zman
Start date Mar 11, 2009
Tags

Sun

AI Thread Summary

Voyager 2 played a crucial role in determining the semi-major axes of the orbits of Uranus and Neptune during its encounters with these planets. The spacecraft's precise measurements of gravitational influences and positional data were analyzed at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). These observations allowed scientists to refine the orbital parameters of both planets, enhancing our understanding of their dynamics. The data collected from Voyager 2 has been instrumental in improving models of the outer solar system. Accurate measurements of these orbits continue to inform current astronomical research.

Mar 11, 2009

Zman

I am after a reference or an explanation as to how the Voyager 2 spacecraft was used to determine the semi major axis (largest diameter) of the orbits of both Uranus and Neptune?

These measurements were performed at Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), NASA, during the Voyager 2 encounter with Uranus and Neptune.

Astronomy news on Phys.org

Mar 14, 2009

Abd Errahmane

thank you

Thread 'Partial Solar Eclipse, From Southern New Zealand'

Partial solar eclipse from Twizel, South Isl., New Zealand ... almost missed it due to cloud, didnt see max at 0710 NZST as it went back into cloud. 20250922, 0701NZST Canon 6D II 70-200mm @200mm, F4, 100th sec, 1600ISO Makeshift solar filter made out of solar eclipse sunglasses

View full post »

Thread 'Our Beautiful Universe - Photos and Videos'

This thread is dedicated to the beauty and awesomeness of our Universe. If you feel like it, please share video clips and photos (or nice animations) of space and objects in space in this thread. Your posts, clips and photos may by all means include scientific information; that does not make it less beautiful to me (n.b. the posts must of course comply with the PF guidelines, i.e. regarding science, only mainstream science is allowed, fringe/pseudoscience is not allowed). n.b. I start this...

View full post »

Thread 'Venus and Jupiter Conjunction'

Today at about 4:30 am I saw the conjunction of Venus and Jupiter, where they were about the width of the full moon, or one half degree apart. Did anyone else see it? Edit: The moon is 2,200 miles in diameter and at a distance of 240,000 miles. Thereby it subtends an angle in radians of 2,200/240,000=.01 (approximately). With pi radians being 180 degrees, one radian is 57.3 degrees, so that .01 radians is about .50 degrees (angle subtended by the moon). (.57 to be more exact, but with...

View full post »