Orbital mechanics
The Hill Sphere
The region around a body within which its own gravity dominates over that of the more massive body it orbits. It sets how far out moons and rings can stably orbit a planet — anything beyond a planet's Hill sphere is pulled away by the Sun.
Bodies, frames & concepts
Knowledge connections
- Associated withEarth
- Associated withThe Roche Limit
- Associated withHill Sphere Radius
Sources
The primary and reference sources this topic draws on.
- NASA JPLJet Propulsion Laboratory / Solar System Dynamics
Orbital data, ephemerides, and small-body parameters for planets, asteroids, and comets.