Voyager & Newton: Orbits and Mechanics Questions

Thread starter edpell
Start date Nov 29, 2009
Tags

Newton Voyager

AI Thread Summary

The discussion centers on the Voyager spacecraft and their adherence to Newtonian mechanics, with a specific reference to the Pioneer anomaly, which suggests discrepancies in the expected orbits of spacecraft. Participants highlight that while the Voyager missions generally align with Newtonian predictions, the Pioneer anomaly raises questions about gravitational influences or potential new physics. The Pioneer anomaly refers to unexpected changes in the trajectories of the Pioneer probes, prompting further investigation into gravitational forces and spacecraft dynamics. This phenomenon has implications for our understanding of deep space mechanics and the laws governing motion. Overall, the conversation emphasizes the ongoing exploration of orbital mechanics in the context of space missions.

Nov 29, 2009

edpell

I seem to remember hearing that there is some question about the orbits of the voyager spacecraft and weather they obey Newtonian mechanics exactly. Can someone please fill me in on the details? Thanks.

Astronomy news on Phys.org

Nov 29, 2009

mgb_phys

Science Advisor

Homework Helper

It's more noticable for the pioneer probe and is called the Pioneer anomaly - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pioneer_anomaly

Thread 'Does it make sense to build new radio telescopes?'

TL;DR Summary: In 3 years, the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) telescope (or rather, a system of telescopes) should be put into operation. In case of failure to detect alien signals, it will further expand the radius of the so-called silence (or rather, radio silence) of the Universe. Is there any sense in this or is blissful ignorance better? In 3 years, the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) telescope (or rather, a system of telescopes) should be put into operation. In case of failure to detect...

View full post »

Thread 'Could gamma-ray bursts have an intragalactic origin?'

This is indirectly evidenced by a map of the distribution of gamma-ray bursts in the night sky, made in the form of an elongated globe. And also the weakening of gamma radiation by the disk and the center of the Milky Way, which leads to anisotropy in the possibilities of observing gamma-ray bursts. My line of reasoning is as follows: 1. Gamma radiation should be absorbed to some extent by dust and other components of the interstellar medium. As a result, with an extragalactic origin, fewer...

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 »