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Kepler's first law states that the orbit of every planet is an ellipse with the Sun at one of the two foci. Is there anything significant about the location, or any unusual properties about the other focus?

Qmechanic
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I think I can code
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2 Answers2

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What I know is, putting the sun at one of the two foci is purely for mathematical convenience, because Kepler's laws derive naturally from vector formulations of Newton's laws.

so my answer to you is that no, the second focus has no physical significance, as far as classical mechanics is concerned. maybe general relativity has another answer. but this is as far as I can go.

quarkleptonboson
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First of all, there are no two focus in reality, it is just assumed that Sun is at one of the focii. For your understanding, go to this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBxDDXG3sTQ. The video just gives the idea. On the paper you have to consider one focus for one ellipse. Fous is nothing but position of the Sun. Based on the position of the Sun your ellipse is formed. It is you to decide which focus to chose.

Sushant23
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