Plan of Laplace
The plane of Laplace is defined like the average plan which the orbit of a satellite occupies during a cycle of nodal Précession. In other words, the normal plan with the pole of orbital precession of the satellite.
It is used to describe the orbits of the satellites of the giant planets. Approximately, the plan of Laplace corresponds to the equatorial plan of planet for the satellites very close to planet, and gradually approaches the orbital plan of planet for the more distant satellites. However, in certain cases, like that of the satellites external of Jupiter (Ananké, Pasiphaé and others), the disturbances due to Saturn become sufficiently important to make deviate the plan of Laplace of the simple preceding description.
| Random links: | August 2002 | Daniel | Symphonic poem | Count of the characters Unicode (8F000-8FFFF) | Line Z of the subway of New York | Club of the Oar of Vichy | Capitaine_Hook |