Visualization of the Sun-Earth Lagrange points. Orbital mechanics is a fun subject, as it involves a lot of seemingly empty space that’s nevertheless full of very real forces, all of which must be ...

Correction: An earlier version of this story erroneously stated that China’s Queqiao satellite was orbiting the Earth-Sun L2 Lagrange point. In fact, Queqiao orbits the Earth-Moon L2 Lagrange point, a ...

A: The Lagrangian points are indeed points, infinitesimal in size, where the gravitational forces from a planet and another body (generally the Sun or a moon) exactly balance the centrifugal force.

Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is approaching its new home ...

Stephen has degrees in science (Physics major) and arts (English Literature and the History and Philosophy of Science), as well as a Graduate Diploma in Science Communication. Stephen has degrees in ...

Lagrange points are locations around a two-body system where the gravitational forces of the two objects, in this case Earth and the Moon, are equal to the centrifugal force. This allows for a ...

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In my live video chat session Saturday, I was asked about the Lagrange points, places of gravitational stability. I decided I needed props for this (yes, the return of the Squishy Brain of Science and ...

Our solar system is brimming with stunning phenomena: the stormy atmosphere of Jupiter, its clouds coiling like cream poured into hot coffee. The delicate rings of Saturn, the countless pieces of ice ...

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