Invariable plane facts for kids
| Year | Jupiter | Saturn | Uranus | Neptune |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 0.32° | 0.93° | 1.02° | 0.72° |
| 142400 | 0.48° | 0.79° | 1.04° | 0.55° |
| 168000 | 0.23° | 1.01° | 1.12° | 0.55° |
The invariable plane of a planetary system is the plane passing through its barycenter (center of mass).
In the Solar System, about 98% of this effect is from the mass of the four gas giants (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune). The invariable plane is within 0.5° of the orbital plane of Jupiter. It is the weighted average of all planetary orbital and rotational planes.
The invariable plane is got from the sum of angular momenta. It is almost invariable (unchanging) over the entire system.
Comments
The Sun forms a counterbalance to all of the planets, so it is near the barycenter when Jupiter is on one side and the other three jovian planets (gas giants) are opposite on the other side. The Sun moves 2.17 solar radii away from the barycenter when all jovian planets are in line on other side.
The orbital angular momenta of the Sun and all non-jovian planets, moons, and minor solar system bodies, as well as the axial rotation momenta of all bodies, totals only about 2%.
For almost all purposes the plane can be considered invariable (unchanging) when working in [Newtonian dynamics.
See also
In Spanish: Plano invariable para niños
