Apparently not. There are 2 reasons for this: while Neptune's and Pluto's orbits overlap on images, they overlap in such a way they never overlap on the same 3D point in space. Ther is also gravitational resonance[2], where each planet speeds up or slows down as the other approaches
10 Comments
MrJameGumb@lemmy.world · 49 pts · 2y
According to Wikipedia it takes 248 years for Pluto to orbit the sun! Sometimes it's eccentric orbit brings it closer to the sun than Neptune!
9point6@lemmy.world · 17 pts · 2y
Does that mean eventually Pluto will crash into Neptune in the absence of something else taking them out first?
trainden@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 34 pts · 2y
Apparently not. There are 2 reasons for this: while Neptune's and Pluto's orbits overlap on images, they overlap in such a way they never overlap on the same 3D point in space. Ther is also gravitational resonance[2], where each planet speeds up or slows down as the other approaches
[1]https://www.astronomy.com/science/ask-astro-will-pluto-and-neptune-ever-collide/, [2]: https://www.sciencefocus.com/space/could-neptune-and-pluto-ever-collide-as-their-orbits-intersect
MonkderDritte@feddit.de · 4 pts · 2y
"Sometimes" being around 50 years, or how much?
milicent_bystandr@lemm.ee · 13 pts · 2y
Job of planet: clear entire orbit.
Requirements for candidate: must have already cleared entire orbit.
Prospective planet: ...
Agent: how about you clear your orbit as an intern, first.
TrickDacy@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 2y
Why so many posts about Pluto today .?
edgemaster72@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 2y
Liz@midwest.social · 4 pts · 2y
That's how memes be sometimes.
UnrepententProcrastinator@lemmy.ca · 4 pts · 2y
According to creationist we can't know the orbit of pluto if we haven't seen it make an orbit.
DannyMac@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 2y
Pfft, our moon is bigger. You're just a big ass comet that can't even do that right to get a tail.
OhmsLawn@lemmy.world · 0 pts · 2y