Question
A comet is hurtling towards the inner solar system. NASA has determinedthat the comet's heliocentric orbit has eccentricity e = 0.974, andperihelion radius r_p =
A comet is hurtling towards the inner solar system. NASA has determinedthat the comet's heliocentric orbit has eccentricity e = 0.974, andperihelion radius r_p = 0.410 AU. For how long will the comet be closer tothe Sun than Mars is to the Sun? Assume Mars is in a circular orbitwith radius 1.524 AU, and that 2pi TU = 1 year = 365.25 days. Note that solving the problem in canonical units and then changing the units for the time is easier than changing all units before solving the problem. Give your answer in days with three digits to the right of the decimal place.
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