Numerical Integration of Orbits

Kepler Object of Interest (KOI) 730

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The Kepler KOI 730 System Rotating Coordinates

In this integration the coordinates are rotated in order to hold planet 703.03 in a constant direction relative to the star. (This has the side effect that the outer planet appears to be going "backwards"). We can now focus on the relative positions of 703.02 and 703.03 and see how they try to keep to the Lagrange points 60 degrees apart. However they drift to and fro quite a lot. Try speeding up the integration and click on "orbits" to get a better impression of the effects. Lissauer et al say they have run this integration (on a supercomputer) for 25My before the two planets get too close and disaster happens. However, the real planets have probably been in this configuration for billions of years - its just that we do not yet have accurate information about their masses and orbits.

 

 

 


Tony Evans 2004-2011

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