EPISODE · Jul 1, 2026 · 3 MIN
Does The Moon Really Orbit The Earth?
from Be Smart. · host Joe Hanson
Viewers like you help make PBS (Thank you 😃) . Support your local PBS Member Station here: https://to.pbs.org/PBSDSDonateWhat holds the moon up? Moonbeams!Don’t miss our next video! SUBSCRIBE! ►► http://bit.ly/iotbs_sub↓ More info and sources below ↓According to Newton's law of gravitation, the sun should "pull" way harder on the moon than the Earth does. So does the moon actually orbit the Earth? Why?Special thanks to Ariel for submitting this awesome question to our Facebook page!Hill Spheres and lunar orbit: http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/29/the-moon-that-went-up-a-hill-but-came-down-a-planet/#.VULLHq1Viko True shape of moon's orbit: http://www.math.nus.edu.sg/aslaksen/teaching/convex.html Newton's law of gravitation vs. Hill Sphere: https://van.physics.illinois.edu/qa/listing.php?id=18501 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hill_sphere Have an idea for an episode or an amazing science question you want answered? Leave a comment or check us out at the links below!Follow on Twitter: http://twitter.com/okaytobesmart http://twitter.com/jtotheizzoeFollow on Tumblr: http://www.itsokaytobesmart.com Follow on Instagram: http://instagram.com/jtotheizzoe -----------------It's Okay To Be Smart is written and hosted by Joe Hanson, Ph.DFollow me on Twitter: @jtotheizzoeEmail me: itsokaytobesmart AT gmail DOT comFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/itsokaytobesmartGoogle+ https://plus.google.com/+itsokaytobesmart For more awesome science, check out: http://www.itsokaytobesmart.comProduced by PBS Digital Studios: http://www.youtube.com/user/pbsdigitalstudios Joe Hanson - Creator/Host/WriterJoe Nicolosi - DirectorAmanda Fox - Producer, Spotzen IncKate Eads - Associate ProducerStephen Bohls - Editing/Motion Graphics/AnimationKatie Graham - Director of PhotographyJohn Knudsen - GafferTheme music:"Ouroboros" by Kevin MacLeodOther music via APM Stock images from Shutterstock, stock footage from VideoblocksFrench subtitles by Alessandro Dal Cero-----------------Last week's video: What's The Loudest Possible Sound? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wi_aawsChqA More videos:Why Does February Have 28 Days? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgKaHTh-_GsWhy Vaccines Work https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aNhzLUL2ys Why Are Some People Left-Handed? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPvMUpcxPSA Where Does the Smell of Rain Come From? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGcE5x8s0B8 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What this episode covers
Viewers like you help make PBS (Thank you 😃) . Support your local PBS Member Station here: https://to.pbs.org/PBSDSDonateWhat holds the moon up? Moonbeams!Don’t miss our next video! SUBSCRIBE! ►► http://bit.ly/iotbs_sub↓ More info and sources below ↓According to Newton's law of gravitation, the sun should "pull" way harder on the moon than the Earth does. So does the moon actually orbit the Earth? Why?Special thanks to Ariel for submitting this awesome question to our Facebook page!Hill Spheres and lunar orbit: http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/29/the-moon-that-went-up-a-hill-but-came-down-a-planet/#.VULLHq1Viko True shape of moon's orbit: http://www.math.nus.edu.sg/aslaksen/teaching/convex.html Newton's law of gravitation vs. Hill Sphere: https://van.physics.illinois.edu/qa/listing.php?id=18501 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hill_sphere Have an idea for an episode or an amazing science question you want answered? Leave a comment or check us out at the links below!Follow on Twitter: http://twitter.com/okaytobesmart http://twitter.com/jtotheizzoeFollow on Tumblr: http://www.itsokaytobesmart.com Follow on Instagram: http://instagram.com/jtotheizzoe -----------------It's Okay To Be Smart is written and hosted by Joe Hanson, Ph.DFollow me on Twitter: @jtotheizzoeEmail me: itsokaytobesmart AT gmail DOT comFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/itsokaytobesmartGoogle+ https://plus.google.com/+itsokaytobesmart For more awesome science, check out: http://www.itsokaytobesmart.comProduced by PBS Digital Studios: http://www.youtube.com/user/pbsdigitalstudios Joe Hanson - Creator/Host/WriterJoe Nicolosi - DirectorAmanda Fox - Producer, Spotzen IncKate Eads - Associate ProducerStephen Bohls - Editing/Motion Graphics/AnimationKatie Graham - Director of PhotographyJohn Knudsen - GafferTheme music:"Ouroboros" by Kevin MacLeodOther music via APM Stock images from Shutterstock, stock footage from VideoblocksFrench subtitles by Alessandro Dal Cero-----------------Last week's video: What's The Loudest Possible Sound? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wi_aawsChqA More videos:Why Does February Have 28 Days? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgKaHTh-_GsWhy Vaccines Work https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aNhzLUL2ys Why Are Some People Left-Handed? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPvMUpcxPSA Where Does the Smell of Rain Come From? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGcE5x8s0B8 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Does The Moon Really Orbit The Earth?
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