Questions tagged [lagrange-point]

Questions on any of the 5 locations where a small object can maintain a stable orbital configuration with respect to two co-orbiting larger bodies.

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How do Lagrange points L2 and L3 form?

Five Lagrange points form between any two bodies in the space (say Sun and Earth). According to my understanding, Lagrange points L1, L4 and L5 can form because gravitation pull can cancel out here as these are between Sun and Earth (where…
barath
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Is possible to identify the Lagrange L2 point in the sky from the earth?

I'm reading now that the James Webb observatory will be at L2 point. Is possible in any way to look at this point from here in earth? I mean... given my LAT and LON here what is the best time to have a sight line? Is near what constelation? I read…
Magno C
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Lagrange points and the radius of the Hill sphere

(Disclaimer: I know the "Hill sphere" is just an approximation of something which isn't genuinely spherical.) In a two-body system, the approximate formula for the Hill sphere radius of the smaller body is $$r_{\mathrm{H}} \approx a (1-e)…
Astrid_Redfern
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L4 and L5 stability

For what I know, L4 and L5 are high points. Although, they are stable points. Why? I thought it was the same being a high point and being a unstable point.
Felix L.
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Can we observe what objects exist at the L3 positiion of planets of our solar system?

From what I understand Earth's L3 is obscured by the Sun, so is that true for our viewpoint of the other planets? Or, are there times when other planets are on the other side of the Sun from Earth and we can see their L3 position? For the Hilda's of…
AOC
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How do you calculate the the z component of the vector that describes the position of L1, L2, L3, L4 and L5 (lagrange points)

I'm using this resource (will download a .pdf) to calculate the positions of all the Lagrange points in a 2-body system, but it's only concerned with the x and y components of their position vectors (2D treatment of the problem, in other words), but…
Happy Koala
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What would the apparent size of the four stars in the Capella system be from the L1 point between the first pair?

Capella is a system with four stars in two binary pairs (source: Wikipedia). If an observer were located at the L1 LaGrange point between the larger pair, how many degrees of the sky would each of the stars - both the first and second pairs -…
Sandwich
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