Re: Earth & Moon: Squaring the Circle

In article <60106d38-06b3-4784-b45e-0a67f75cbae4@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, Nick Keighley wrote:
On 19 Oct, 13:43, Nick Keighley <nick_keighley_nos...@xxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
On 19 Oct, 03:18, osugeography <osugeogra...@xxxxxxx> wrote:
On Oct 8, 5:54 pm, Jo? <jon.neverm...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:


Another interesting item is Bode's Law. It is fairly accurate in
predicting the orbital position of the planets (out to Neptune?), and
the asteroid belt also, I believe.

It is more a descriptor than a law, but the coincidence is
interesting. Apparently some think it pure coincidence, and others
believe there is some natural relationship between the distances.

but now we've found planets around other stars (exoplanets) I think
Bode's Law has been found to be just a coincidnce.

Should have read wikipedia first. It *doesn't* work for Neptune (or
Pluto).
And no extra solar system has enough (detected) planets to test Bode's
Law.
There is sometheoretical reasons why something like Bode's law might
apply (orbital resonance and a "lack of degrees of freedom")

Bode's Law is just a curve fit. As it has 3 adjustable parameters,
'matching' 5-7 points is not terribly impressive (particularly once
you look at how good the 'matches' are).

Orbital resonance issues do tend to lead to a 'the farther out from
the sun you are, the farther apart the smaller, but major bodies get' tendency.
At least until you're far enough out that the relaxation times are excessive
(which is part of what makes Pluto's status as planet arguable).

--
Robert Grumbine http://moregrumbinescience.blogspot.com/ Science blog
Sagredo (Galileo Galilei) "You present these recondite matters with too much
evidence and ease; this great facility makes them less appreciated than they
would be had they been presented in a more abstruse manner." Two New Sciences

.

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