Lagrangian point

noun

, Astronomy.

1. one of five points in the orbital plane of two bodies orbiting about their common center of gravity at which another body of small mass can be in equilibrium.

Lagrangian point

noun

1. astronomy one of five points in the plane of revolution of two bodies in orbit around their common centre of gravity, at which a third body of negligible mass can remain in equilibrium with respect to the other two bodies

Lagrangian point

/ lə-grān′jē-ən /

1. A point in space where a small body with negligible mass under the gravitational influence of two large bodies will remain at rest relative to the larger ones. In a system consisting of two large bodies (such as the Sun-Earth system or the Moon-Earth system), there are five Lagrangian points (L1 through L5). Knowledge of these points is useful in deciding where to position orbiting bodies.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Lagrangian point¹

1960–65; named after J. L. Lagrange; -ian

Example Sentences

“Preliminary results showed it was in a trojan orbit around our Lagrangian point L4,” Dunn told Space.com.

From Scientific American

The Interceptor will park at Earth's L2 Lagrangian point 1.5 million kilometers away, where it can easily maintain a stable orbit as it awaits the flyby of an interesting object.

From Scientific American

The plan is to go to a gravitational "sweetspot" just behind the Earth in its orbit around the Sun known as "Lagrangian Point 5".

From BBC

This would take up a position directly between the Earth and the Sun, at Lagrangian Point 1.

From BBC

It is now on a 100-day journey to L2, the second Lagrangian point, a gravitationally stable parking spot that trails Earth’s orbit around the Sun.

From Nature