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

["LaMontagne, Bob" <RLAMONT@providence.edu>]

If you notice carefully, the rings are tilted. Titan is much further out
than the rings. You are seeing the system from slightly below, so Titan
appears to be at a high latitude when it really isn't.

Bob at PC

-----Original Message-----
From: phys-l-bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu
[mailto:phys-l-bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu] On Behalf Of John
Mallinckrodt
Sent: Wednesday, March 18, 2009 11:15 AM
To: Forum for Physics Educators
Subject: Re: [Phys-l] Question re: Titan Orbit

Titan's orbital radius is 1200 thousand km compared to Saturn's 50  
thousand km radius.  Thus, the movie is showing only a very small  
piece of Titan's orbit as it passes between the camera and the disk  
of Saturn.

John

On Mar 18, 2009, at 7:48 AM, Bob Sciamanda 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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