Re: [Phys-l] Question re: Titan Orbit

[Gary Karshner <gkarshner@stmarytx.edu>]

Bob,
        It turns out the Titans orbit is inclined only about .3 degrees to 
the plane of rotation of the planet, but it is far enough from the planet 
that you are only seeing a very small part of that orbit. Titans size, 
which you can see in the picture, relative to the mean radius of the orbit 
is about 1/240. The orbit is mostly inclined because of our prospective 
relative to the system. Saturn's rings for example can change from almost 
cover the whole planet to disappearing as our prospective of Saturn changes.
Gary

At 10:48 AM 3/18/2009 -0400, you wrote:
> Go to http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/releases/2009/12/video/b/
> Play the movie and watch the orbit of Saturn's moon, Titan.
>
> This orbit is (or appears to me to be ) in a plane at a CONSTANT latitude 
> of about 75 degrees.
> This puzzles me.  Should not the orbital plane contain the CG of the 
> system (almost coincident with Saturn's center)?
>
> Somebody please straighten me out!
>
> Bob Sciamanda
> Physics, Edinboro Univ of PA (Em)
> trebor@winbeam.com
> http://www.winbeam.com/~trebor/
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