Sphere of Influence

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Sphere of Influence

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The surface in space about a planet where the ratio of the force with which the sun perturbs the motion of a particle about the planet, to the force of attraction of the planet equals the ratio of the force with which the planet perturbs the motion of a particle about the sun, to the force of attraction of the sun on the particle. </dd>
The volume inside this surface defines the region where the attracting body exerts the primary influence on a particle. </dd>

References

This article is based on NASA's Dictionary of Technical Terms for Aerospace Use