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To: enraged

It can happen. You should not look at the planet and the comet in isolation- there are other gravitational forces at play, too- for example, that of nearby moons, planets and the entire solar system.

Occasionally, the orbital positions may create a situation where the forces from those external fields, or from orbital eccentricity, may allow for the captured body to escape.


13 posted on 09/14/2009 12:31:29 PM PDT by OldSpice
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To: OldSpice

Slapping my forehead! Seems obvious now. I guess I was preplexed at the capture and release aspect, thinking too simply to realize that obviously near-by bodies would also be interacting too.

Thanks all.


15 posted on 09/14/2009 1:19:39 PM PDT by enraged
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