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The perihelion distance for Venus is 0.720 AU and its aphelion distance is 0.726. What is its semi-major axis? Use Kepler's 3rd Law to calculate its orbital period in Earth years. |
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For Mars, the perihelion distance is 1.38 AU and the aphelion distance is 1.66 AU. Does Mars have a more or less elliptical orbit than Venus? Find Mars' semi-major axis and orbital period. |
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The center of the Asteroid Belt is 2.8 AU from the Sun. How long will it take an object at this distance to orbit the Sun? |
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A comet comes within 0.5 AU of the Sun at its closest approach and its aphelion distance is 51.5 AU. What is its average distance from the Sun? When will this comet make a repeat passage near the Sun? |
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Neptune was discovered in 1846 (after being predicted by Adams and Leverrier in 1845). In 2011 it will finally complete one orbit since its discovery. How far is Neptune from the Sun, on average? |