Post History
Noticed this relationship when answering a question somewhere else. There is a formula to calculate how much space a planet gravitationally clears (will sweep up anything smaller with a circular o...
#2: Question closed
by
ArtOfCode
·
2025-12-31T13:11:54Z (9 months ago)
#1: Initial revision
by
James McLellan
·
2025-12-29T21:40:38Z (9 months ago)
Formula for Next Possible Orbit
Noticed this relationship when answering a question somewhere else.
There is a formula to calculate how much space a planet gravitationally clears (will sweep up anything smaller with a circular orbit in this region)
* A is the primary (star) mass
* B is the planet mass
* r1 is the distance from A to a test point
* r2 is the distance from A to planet B
* vo1 = sqrt(GA/r1^2)
* vo2 = sqrt(GA/r2^2)
* v12 = vo1 - vo2
= sqrt(GA/r1^2) - sqrt(GA/r2^2)
* r12 = r2 - r1
* veB = sqrt(2GB / r12^2)
Captured : v12 < veB