Question

A planet has a perihelion distance of 1 A.U. and a semi major axis of 234.89 A.U. What is it's aphelion distance?

Answer 1

The aphelion distance is `468.78`AU

Explanation:

Given that the planet follows an elliptical orbit with a semi major axis `a` and an eccentricity `e`. The perihelion distance is given by `a(1-e)` and the aphelion distance is `a(1+e)`.

Substituting the values for perihelion:

`1=234.89(1-e)`

`e=233.89/234.89`

So the aphelion distance as:

`234.89(1 + 233.89/234.89)=468.78`AU