In 1996, the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) was “parked” in an orbit slightly inside the earth’s orbit, as shown in Figure CP13.63. The satellite’s period in this orbit is exactly one year, so it remains fixed relative to the earth. At this point, called a Lagrange point, the light from the sun is never blocked by the earth, yet the satellite remains “nearby” so that data are easily transmitted to earth. What is SOHO’s distance from the earth?

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SOHO Earth Satellite's motion is synchronized with the earth's.