Earth Is Drifting Away From The Sun, And So Are All The Planets

Forbes ^ | 1/3/19 | Ethan Siegel

[LibWhacker]

On January 3rd, 2019, Earth reached the point in its orbit where it's at its closest approach to the Sun: perihelion. Every object orbiting a single mass (like our Sun) makes an ellipse, containing a point of closest approach that's unique to that particular orbit, known as periapsis. For the past 4.5 billion years, Earth has orbited the Sun in an ellipse, just like all the other planets orbiting their stars in all the other mature solar systems throughout the galaxy and Universe.

But there's something you may not expect or appreciate that nevertheless occurs: Earth's orbital path doesn't remain the same over time, but spirals outward. This year, 2019, our perihelion was 1.5 centimeters farther away than it was last year, which was more distant than the year before, etc. It's not just Earth, either; every planet drifts away from its parent star. Here's the science of why.

The force responsible for the orbits of every planet around every solar system in the Universe is the same: the universal law of gravitation. Whether you look at it in terms of Newton, where every mass attracts every other mass in the Universe, or in terms of Einstein, where mass-and-energy curves the fabric of spacetime through which other masses travel, the largest mass dominates the orbit of everything it influences.

[LibWhacker]

There are lots of little diagrams and gifs at the source to help those who want a deeper understanding.

For me, it boils down to this: 1.5 centimeters a year equals 9,300 miles in a billion years. So earth will most likely still be vaporized in the end.

[Hostage]

We have got to stop human-caused Climate Chaos now! This is not a game!

[DakotaGator]

The must be caused by Man-made Global Warming, excuse me, Climate Change...whatever the watermelons are calling it this week!

[fieldmarshaldj]

[fwdude]

So earth will most likely still be vaporized in the end.

I think you have it backwards. The Earth is moving further away every year. We will soon be a rogue, free-floating, frozen planet.

[dhs12345]

A good earth day project — everyone on the night side push down on the ground. That should make things right.

[Red Badger]

I thought it was getting a little more chillier than usual............

[gr8eman]

Earth's orbital path doesn't remain the same over time, but spirals outward.

The worst "teaching" tool ever is called the orrery(sp)...ya know the planet thing that shows the planets travelling around the Sun in circular orbits? The only circular orbits are artificial orbits by controlled satellites. All natural orbits are ellipses, meaning all planets get closer and farther from the Sun...apogee and perigee don'tcha know?

[onedoug]

So what? There’s not a damned thing we could do about it.

[Swordmaker]

WE’RE ALL GONNA DIE!

[rhinohunter]

Brrrrr!

[rktman]

Well I may continue to treat it as such just to PO ‘sandy o’casio’ (D-lusional NY).

[Mark]

Raise taxes now!!

[Red Badger]

“Drift Away”
Dobie Gray

Day after day I’m more confused
Yet I look for the light through the pouring rain
You know that’s a game that I hate to lose
And I’m feelin’ the strain
Ain’t it a shame

Oh, give me the beat boys and free my soul
I wanna get lost in your rock and roll and drift away
Oh, give me the beat boys and free my soul
I wanna get lost in your rock and roll and drift away

Beginning to think that I’m wastin’ time
I don’t understand the things I do
The world outside looks so unkind
And I’m countin’ on you
To carry me through

Oh, give me the beat boys and free my soul
I wanna get lost in your rock and roll and drift away
Yeah, give me the beat boys and free my soul
I wanna get lost in your rock and roll and drift away

And when my mind is free
You know a melody can move me
And when I’m feelin’ blue
The guitar’s comin’ through to soothe me

Thanks for the joy that you’ve given me
I want you to know I believe in your song
And rhythm and rhyme and harmony
You’ve helped me along
Makin’ me strong

Oh, give me the beat boys and free my soul
I wanna get lost in your rock and roll and drift away
Give me the beat boys and free my soul
I wanna get lost in your rock and roll and drift away

Oh, give me the beat boys and free my soul
I wanna get lost in your rock and roll and drift away
Hey, give me the beat boys and free my soul
I wanna get lost in your rock and roll and drift away

Na na na, won’t you, won’t you take me
Oh, take me

[SpaceBar]

No news cycle is complete without a second grade level ‘scientific’ talking down to.

[ConservativeDude]

big oil is doing more damage than i ever realized

[C210N]

Actually, I think what will happen is will continue moving further away... but before we have complete freedom, the Sun will go nova, and the explosion will expand to us and beyond us, vaporizing us.

And, while on the topic of ellipsis, perihelion and so on, the earth’s orbit varies from elliptical to near-circular, in a 100,000 year cycle driving our ice ages and warm periods. See Milankovitch for more info.

[Robwin]

This is the opposite of what was always taught. Supposedly the time would come when all the planets would be drawn by gravity into the sun.

I wish the cognoscenti would make up their minds so I can make the appropriate plans for the future.

[cuban leaf]

This year, 2019, our perihelion was 1.5 centimeters farther away than it was last year

---

They honestly expect us to believe that baloney.

If they can get us to believe they can measure it that precisely, they can get us to believe anything they tell us.

[Flash Bazbeaux]

Only if the speed at which we are fleeing the sun gets out far enough out when the sun expands out to Mars, in another 5 billion years. I think the poster you responded to did the math and concluded we will not.

Trump’s fault, of course.