NASA Clarifies: Earth Orbits a Shifting Center of Mass, Not Directly the Sun
Jakarta – Contrary to common understanding, Earth doesn’t orbit the Sun in a simple, direct path. The United states Space Agency (NASA) has clarified that our planet, and all others in the solar system, actually orbit a point in space that shifts due to the gravitational influence of the planets themselves.
This point, known as the “barycenter,” represents the center of mass of the solar system. While the Sun is overwhelmingly the most massive object, the gravity of planets – especially gas giants like Jupiter and Saturn – pulls the barycenter away from the Sun’s center. Planetary astronomer James O’Donoghue explains this influence causes planets to orbit these new points in space.
The Sun and Earth both orbit this barycenter.because the Sun is so massive, this point is usually within the Sun, but not at its geometric center. At times, the barycenter can even lie outside the Sun’s surface. This dynamic is similar to how the Moon orbits Earth – approximately 5,000 kilometers from Earth’s center, not its surface.
“Although the Sun remains the primary center of gravity,” NASA stated, “complex interactions between the planets influence their respective orbital trajectories.” This discovery offers a new perspective on the dynamics of our solar system, reinforcing the intricate gravitational relationships governing planetary motion.
