Celestial Mechanics

These days, it’s pretty common for amateur astronomers, given a specific time and date, and position on the Earth, to predict the positions of the planets and other solar system bodies against the backdrop of the stars with high precision. We do it on our devices so easily and so often, that it’s easy to take this capability for granted. The reality is that our ability to do this is the result of the science of Celestial Mechanics, which is the branch of astronomy which deals with the motions of objects in outer space, using the principles of classical physics and mathematical techniques to make these predictions. Gaining a high level understanding of the motions of solar system bodies and what causes them, can enhance your observations of the planets, and also help you to understand how comets and asteroids move through the solar system. Speaker Bio: Justin McCollum is a long time member of HAS and is on the staff of Lamar University where he is the Physics Laboratory Coordinator.