Curious As To Why The Sun Doesn't Swallow Mercury? (solar, Jupiter, universe)
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O.k. astro guru's on here i'm curious as to how the hell does the giant sun with a gravitational pull even on far distant pluto doesn't swallow up tiny and super close mercury? Shouldn't had mercury been pulled into the sun by it's overwhelming gravitation some billions of years ago?
If Mercury were to slow down from its 30 miles/second orbital speed (with which it takes 88 days to go once around the Sun), it surely would be pulled in. It doesn't for the same reason (most) comets don't get pulled either.
"Curious As To Why The Sun Doesn't Swallow Mercury?"
Because a.) the sun doesn't have a mouth, and b.) mercury is poisonous.
Orbital mechanics is fairly obvious, so I have to guess that you are wondering about solar eruptions? They don't reach that far. The other thing you might be thinking of is drag? It probably does have some effect on slowing the orbit, but a comparatively small one.
Here is a counter question - why doesn't the nucleus of the atom swallow the electron? It is a lot closer than Mercury is to the sun.
O.k. astro guru's on here i'm curious as to how the hell does the giant sun with a gravitational pull even on far distant pluto doesn't swallow up tiny and super close mercury? Shouldn't had mercury been pulled into the sun by it's overwhelming gravitation some billions of years ago?
The orbit of Mercury has stabilized(reached equilibrium)........as it circles the sun......eventually as the Sun expands(5 Billion years) it will completely engulf Mercury.
If Mercury were to slow down from its 30 miles/second orbital speed (with which it takes 88 days to go once around the Sun), it surely would be pulled in. It doesn't for the same reason (most) comets don't get pulled either.
O.k. so speed is what keeps it out. I wonder if that along with Jupiter tugging on it also has an influence as well?
The orbit of Mercury has stabilized(reached equilibrium)........as it circles the sun......eventually as the Sun expands(5 Billion years) it will completely engulf Mercury.
Maybe this GIF can help to visualize it>>>>>
Yeap i think i got it now and so thanks for posting PITTS
O.k. so speed is what keeps it out. I wonder if that along with Jupiter tugging on it also has an influence as well?
Jupiter's tug on mercury would be minimal compared to that of the sun. Mercury survives because its orbit has been stabilized since it formed. It moves fast enough to produce enough outward force as to balance the sun's gravitational pull. BTW, Mercury is tidally locked with the sun.
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