Neptune-Pluto Relationship
This integration shows the relationship between Neptune and Pluto.
The display is updated every 30089.5 days which is half of Neptune's
period. This means that Neptune appears twice each period on either
side of its orbit. Pluto is in a 3:2 resonant relationship with
Neptune so it appears three times per orbit.
Click on Orbit to remove the orbit
paths and you will see that Neptune leaves virtually no trail That
means it keeps to its orbital period almost exactly. Pluto moves
backwards and forwards showing that its period increases and decreases
a little as Neptune's gravity keeps it in resonance.
This is a "strobe" integration with a fixed display period equal to
half Neptune's period and one third of Pluto's orbit. Mercury and
Venus are omitted from the integration as they have negligible effect
on these outer orbits. All the other planets are included. Neptune and Pluto are shown in normal colours,
the others are shown faintly. |
