Quote:
Originally Posted by Robert Tulip
It is useful to incorporate time into models of space. This model takes the two dimensional XY plane ellipses of the gas giants and introduces the third Z dimension of movement along the vertical axis of the sun to represent the paths of the planets in space. It is a simplified model - in reality the Z axis is not vertical because the solar system plane is not orthogonal to the path of the sun around the galaxy. The model presents interesting questions in astrophysics. It can be analysed to portray the exact path over time of all objects in the system. For example, the path of the sun can be analysed against the overall helix structure to show how the position of the sun relates to a central axis line and to the centre of mass. It can be shown how far off a straight line/even curve the planets pull the momentum of the sun. If this model was the diameter of a coin the near star Alpha Centauri would be one hundred metres away. This is a model of our galactic environment.
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You also easily forget that the planet's orbits are inclined with respect to the Z-axis, which means that there is also a periodic motion "up-and-down" along the Z-axis. So even more deviation from a nice spiral.
Also, the location of the barycentre of the solar system moves at the most 2 R
sun away from the centre of the sun, which in your coin analogue would mean the following:
Solar system = 6 10
12 meter (Pluto's orbit) = 1 Euro (1 cm radius)
2 R
sun = 14 10
8 m / 6 10
12 m = 2 10
-4
This means that "our galactic environment" sortof "wiggles" at 0.0002 cm with the 100 m location of Alpha Centauri. Now, I have no idea what exactly you are trying to say here, but I seriously doubt that there is something significant here.
For sure, there is a wiggly line "left behind" by the Sun in her path around the centre of the galaxy, but the beautiful thing is that the barycentre of the solar system does no such thing, but has a very smooth path.