| − | The semi-major axes of the first seven classical planets, and the dwarf planet [[Ceres]], approximate the values that the Titius-Bode Law predicts very closely. Indeed the Titius-Bode Law aided directly in the discovery of [[Ceres]]. Furthermore, the discovery of [[Uranus]] was held to validate this law, because the formulation of this law, and its prediction of the semi-major axis of a planet beyond [[Saturn]], anticipated the discovery of [[Uranus]]--the semi-major axis of which was very close to the value that the Titius-Bode Law predicted. | + | The semi-major axes of the first seven classical planets, and the dwarf planet [[Ceres]], approximate the values that the Titius-Bode Law predicts very closely. Indeed, the Titius-Bode Law aided directly in the discovery of [[Ceres]]. Furthermore, the discovery of [[Uranus]] was held to validate this law, because the formulation of this law, and its prediction of the semi-major axis of a planet beyond [[Saturn]], anticipated the discovery of [[Uranus]]--the semi-major axis of which was very close to the value that the Titius-Bode Law predicted. |
| − | Beginning with [[Neptune]], however, the semi-major axes fall well short of the Titius-Bode Law. Yet the table still shows an interesting pattern, in that the semi-major axes of [[Pluto]] and [[Eris]] are barely less than ''one-half'' the distances predicted by the Titius-Bode Law. Moreover the aphelion of Eris is ''almost double'' that for Pluto. | + | Beginning with [[Neptune]], however, the semi-major axes fall well short of the Titius-Bode Law. Yet the table still shows an interesting pattern, in that the semi-major axes of [[Pluto]] and [[Eris]] are barely less than ''one-half'' the distances predicted by the Titius-Bode Law. Moreover, the aphelion of Eris is ''almost double'' that for Pluto. |
| | But a closer inspection of the distances for the last three planets reveals another interesting pattern: [[Pluto]]'s orbit is very close to where [[Neptune]]'s orbit ought to be--and [[Eris]]'s orbit is less than 10 AU short of where [[Pluto]]'s orbit ought to be. | | But a closer inspection of the distances for the last three planets reveals another interesting pattern: [[Pluto]]'s orbit is very close to where [[Neptune]]'s orbit ought to be--and [[Eris]]'s orbit is less than 10 AU short of where [[Pluto]]'s orbit ought to be. |