Explained: Earth is technically not revolving around the sun - here's what NASA has to say

We've always known the Earth to revolve around the Sun, something we learnt in our early years at school. And while the Sun still remains the heavyweight centre of our solar system, the latest claim that the Earth isn't revolving around the Sun might sound counterintuitive. That said, it's an interesting claim that questions our perspective of planetary motion. Here's what you need to know.

What is the barycentre and how does it explain the claim that the Earth does not revolve around the Sun?

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In physics and astronomy, two or more bodies (planets, stars) with a centre of mass balance each other at a point called the barycentre. In simpler terms, it is the point in space around which the two objects orbit. When it comes to the Earth, its barycentre is its centre of mass, which is said to vary given the gravity of the Sun and the Moon.

In other words, the barycentre is the fulcrum on which the Sun and the Earth balance and rotate. When it comes to our solar system, the barycentre does not lie within the sun. Hence, the latest claim.

According to Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation, all particles exert a gravitational force on each other and this force is directly proportional to the sum of the masses of said objects. In simpler terms, while the Sun exerts enough force on Earth to pull it into orbit, the Earth exerts a force on the Sun, too. This is important evidence that points to the presence of the barycentre. Interestingly, celestial giants like Jupiter and Saturn, each with a massive gravitational force, can sometimes drag the barycentre away from the Sun.

What has NASA said?

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Along with other forces that come into play when navigating the vast expanse of space, understanding planetary motion undeniably plays an important role when planning any type of space travel.

NASA explains the whole concept succinctly on its website: "Consider a small star in orbit about a more massive one. Both stars actually revolve about a common center of mass, which is called the barycenter. This is true no matter what the size or mass of each of the objects involved. Measuring a star's motion about its barycenter with a massive planet is one method that has been used to discover planetary systems associated with distant stars. Obviously, these statements apply to a two-dimensional picture of planetary motion, which is all that is needed for describing orbits. A three-dimensional picture of motion would include the path of the Sun through space."

To further simplify this concept: the Earth doesn't technically revolve around the Sun because the barycentre doesn't lie in its centre.

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