calculate orbital parameters using Kepler's Third Law (P'² = a³).

 1) Scientists just discovered a new comet that orbits the Sun once every 540 years.

 a) What is the semi-major axis of this comet in astronomical units? 

b) If this comet gets as close to the Sun as 6 AU at perihelion, how far away from the Sun is it at aphelion? 

2) Scientists just discovered a new asteroid in their search for near Earth objects. It orbits the Sun at a semi-major axis of 88 million kilometers. 

a) What is this distance in astronomical units?

 b) What is the orbital period of this asteroid in days?

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Given Keplers Third Law that states P2 a3 where P is the orbital period in years and a is the semima... View the full answer