celestial mechanics

American  

noun

1. the branch of astronomy that deals with the application of the laws of dynamics and Newton's law of gravitation to the motions of heavenly bodies.

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celestial mechanics British  

noun

1. the study of the motion of celestial bodies under the influence of gravitational fields

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celestial mechanics Scientific  

1. The science of the motion of celestial bodies under the influence of gravitational forces.

2. See more at Kepler's laws of planetary motion relativity

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Etymology

Origin of celestial mechanics

First recorded in 1815–25

Example Sentences

“Saved again by the laws of celestial mechanics,” a host of the event said in a video recording with scenes from Aruba, one of the places where the eclipse crossed land.

From New York Times

An international team of researchers recently simulated the unstable celestial mechanics of the early solar system.

From Scientific American

It’s not just celestial mechanics that makes Venus “pop,” though—planetary science is a factor, too.

From Scientific American

Thank you to astronomer Geoff Chester of the Naval Observatory, for your benevolence, your patience in explaining celestial mechanics and for keeping me on the path to cosmic accuracy.

From Washington Post

This mushrooming of Martian missions is remarkable, though the fact that these probes all have launch dates so near each other is also influenced by celestial mechanics, added Open University astrobiologist Susanne Schwenzer.

From The Guardian