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Prof. Sam Lawler
Prof. Sam Lawler
@sundogplanets@mastodon.social  ·  activity timestamp 9 hours ago

In 1964, the first simulation showing that Pluto is in a mean-motion resonance with Neptune was published: https://articles.adsabs.harvard.edu/pdf/1965Obs....85...43C

They ran a 120,000 year simulation that showed libration of the resonant angle for the first time. This must have been terrifyingly hard to do. Punch cards, vacuum tubes, FORTRAN? I don't even know how they did this, but it was run on the Naval Ordnance Research Calculator

This was the first time Pluto's orbital stability was explained.

A figure from a paper showing Pluto's motion relative to Neptune's over 120,000 years.  Pluto makes almost a circle, but with two little loops 90 degrees from Neptune's position.
A figure from a paper showing Pluto's motion relative to Neptune's over 120,000 years. Pluto makes almost a circle, but with two little loops 90 degrees from Neptune's position.
A figure from a paper showing Pluto's motion relative to Neptune's over 120,000 years. Pluto makes almost a circle, but with two little loops 90 degrees from Neptune's position.
A man is retired.
A man is retired.
@Photo55@mastodon.social replied  ·  activity timestamp 7 hours ago

@sundogplanets
In 1966 #LarryNiven a SciFi author in #WorldOfPtavvs had #Pluto a moon of Neptune, long previously hit by a spaceship at relativistic speed aimed at #Neptune An artifact protected by a plot device remained on it.

He would have been aware of that work I think.

Good story, although the usual elements wouldn't do this century.

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