The phrase refers to an orbiting body (a planet or protoplanet) “sweeping out” its orbital region over time, by gravitationally interacting with smaller bodies nearby. Over many orbital cycles, a large body will tend to cause small bodies either to accrete with it, or to be disturbed to another orbit, or to be captured either as a satellite or into a resonant orbit. As a consequence it does not then share its orbital region with other bodies of significant size, except for its own satellites, or other bodies governed by its own gravitational influence. This latter restriction excludes objects whose orbits may cross but that will never collide with each other due to orbital resonance, such as Jupiter and its trojans, Earth and 3753 Cruithne, or Neptune and the plutinos.[3] As to the extent of orbit clearing required, Jean-Luc Margot emphasises “a planet can never completely clear its orbital zone, because gravitational and radiative forces continually perturb the orbits of asteroids and comets into planet-crossing orbits” and states that the IAU did not intend the impossible standard of impeccable orbit clearing.[2]
Trojans and Greeks orbit Jupiter’s LaGrange points in a stable orbit and so they are governed by Jupiter’s gravity. You could say they’re really weird moons orbiting semi-stable points Jupiter creates.
this condition makes “planetness” into a local condition. so theoretically, we can throw enough junk into space and stop anything we want from being a planet.
pluto just got unlucky in terms of the amount of trash it has in its way. its not fair :(
Bad astronomy and fake news below please ignore me.
also Pluto lovers should note that orbital dominance takes longer the farther out you are, due to the size of the orbit itself and the sheer amount of time it takes to make a trip around, limiting interactions with neighbors.
Pluto will eventually own it’s orbit and whatever species has inherited the earth by then may decide to grant it full planet status again!
You made me curious about the timeframe and it turns out I had it completely wrong.
Pluto’s lack of orbital dominance is a matter of size not time, it’s already had the required time it’s just too wee to get it done. Pluto will never be a full planet!
Arenyou gonna start calling Ceres, Haumea, Makemake, and Orcus planets?
We went through this 150 years ago ehen the asteroid belt was discovered. Every astronomer wanted credit for discovering a new planet, so at one point there were 15 before all the astronomers got together and said it was untenable.
Pluto will always be a planet to me, and you’ll pry that definition from my cold, dead hands!
Stay strong. A dwarf planet is a perfectly valid kind of planet, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
It’s not the size that counts but the ability to clear your orbit. ;)
So tell me about Jupiter
Good question! I had forgotten about Jupiter’s Trojans and Greek asteroids!
I went and checked the definiton of Clearing the Neighborhood by IAU, emphasis mine:
Trojans and Greeks orbit Jupiter’s LaGrange points in a stable orbit and so they are governed by Jupiter’s gravity. You could say they’re really weird moons orbiting semi-stable points Jupiter creates.
So since there are like 95 moons (as of last Feb) of jupiter, I’m calling out a dwarf planet
this condition makes “planetness” into a local condition. so theoretically, we can throw enough junk into space and stop anything we want from being a planet.
pluto just got unlucky in terms of the amount of trash it has in its way. its not fair :(
No, because if it’s a proper planet it will clear its orbit.
Bad astronomy and fake news below please ignore me.
also Pluto lovers should note that orbital dominance takes longer the farther out you are, due to the size of the orbit itself and the sheer amount of time it takes to make a trip around, limiting interactions with neighbors.Pluto will eventually own it’s orbit and whatever species has inherited the earth by then may decide to grant it full planet status again!Well, only if we move the Earth safely outwards of the huge Sun.
You made me curious about the timeframe and it turns out I had it completely wrong.
Pluto’s lack of orbital dominance is a matter of size not time, it’s already had the required time it’s just too wee to get it done. Pluto will never be a full planet!
By the time the Plutians invade they can have Earth
Does it dig mines and sing upbeat work songs?
ROCK AND STONE……… and orbits
I am a dwarf and I can’t clear orbits, can’t clear orbits, can’t clear orbits
without orbital dominance?
amazon.com ass planet with fake reviews.
So Neptune has a rogue rock in its orbit that also orbits the sun and we’re just gonna give Neptune a pass on that one because we saw it first.
At best, this is size discrimination, and neptunotism, and we both know it!
Look, just be careful that you don’t confuse proplutoism with antineptunotism.
Yeah but it’s delivered with a nice hand written note from a single mom in China so I 5 star anyways.
Upvoted for funny doos ex name
The central point that Pluto and Charon orbit about is also outside of Pluto. All other planets have the center point located within the planet.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Pluto-Charon_system-new.gif
Then that makes it the solar system’s first discovered Binary planets
Arenyou gonna start calling Ceres, Haumea, Makemake, and Orcus planets?
We went through this 150 years ago ehen the asteroid belt was discovered. Every astronomer wanted credit for discovering a new planet, so at one point there were 15 before all the astronomers got together and said it was untenable.
Yes. We could have had a planet Orcus and we were like “nah, we’ll pass.” That would have been metal as shit.
Real scientific, Jerry.
Hungry For Apples?
Whatever, Pluto is a dwarf planet like every other dwarf planet too.
A dwarf planet is a type of planet, right?
Not according to the IAU.
:'(
New Billy Joel song? I heard he’s writing again.