Webb Telescope

There is a centrifugal force, from the JWST's speed around the Sun, pushing it further out. This is balanced against the force of gravity from the Sun and the Earth, pulling it in.

That I understand Mike.

What is holding JWST in its own (perpendicular) orbit around L2?

Some sort of whirlpool or plug-hole effect perhaps?

Thanks for your quick response.

Sam

I originally thought it was "love", but I know that can't be right.

Good one Mike

Sam

This might help, Sam : **LINK**

https://youtu.be/7PHvDj4TDfM

Great graphics are worth umpteen thousand words !

MichaelG.

I have seen that video. And he does a great job explaining things. But all the things I've read and watched have left me unsatisfied in answering Sam's question. And I think I understand what he's asking, because that's how I would phrase it.

Since there isn't an object at L2, what is allowing Webb to orbit it? Scott Manley simply says that "there is a force pulling it back", but doesn't explain anything further.

I think the answer is that Earth, and maybe the Sun too, is pulling on Webb and making L2 a preferable position than "some distance away from L2". That is...If Webb wasn't in a halo orbit around L2...If it was just sitting at L2 and you pushed it away from L2 a little bit, the gravity of Earth (and Sun?) would pull it back to L2. The situation just seems weird because Webb isn't orbiting a mass.

But also, "love". That's the "L" in "L2", afterall.

As usual, ‘many thanks’ for your superlative guidance Michael.

At first glance, I thought “Whoa!" Too much information, I'll need a clear head to get through this"

I'll let you know how I go.

Cheers

Sam

After a ‘once through’ of the video with clever graphics including whirlpools/plugholes and Scott Manley’s description, I can (sort of) get a sense of the dynamics. (Must try harder.)

However, I struggled far less with the slingshot effect used to accelerate space probes on their way out of the solar region.

I’ll more than likely run through it again if it continues to peeve me.

Euler should get more credit. I only knew of him from his ‘Columns or Struts’ formula.

Thanks for your input MichaelG and Mike, and apologies Alan Charleston for dipping into your thread.

Sam

Sam [and Greta, if you’re reading this]

The very fact that the three mass problem is far-from-intuitively-obvious perhaps demonstrates how difficult it will be for mankind to ever understand what we have done to the dynamics of our climate, and to have any realistic hope of re-stabilising it.

Just a thought, in chaos

MichaelG.

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 18/02/2022 09:00:00

Quickest way would be to kill off all the people and let it recover on its own. What would be needed would be to let loose a deadly virus ..... oh wait .....

Edited By Peter Greene 🇨🇦 on 18/02/2022 16:27:04