Lagrange Point Calculator
Lagrange Point
Calculate the distances to L1, L2, and L3 Lagrange points for a two-body gravitational system such as the Sun-Earth or Earth-Moon system.
Formula
Hill Radius = d x (m / 3M)^(1/3); L1 = d - Hill Radius; L2 = d + Hill Radius
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Lagrange points?
Lagrange points are five positions in space where the gravitational pull of two large bodies and the centrifugal force balance, allowing a small object to remain relatively stationary with respect to the two larger bodies.
Which Lagrange point is the James Webb Space Telescope at?
The James Webb Space Telescope orbits the Sun-Earth L2 point, about 1.5 million km from Earth on the side away from the Sun.
Are Lagrange points truly stable?
Only L4 and L5 are naturally stable. L1, L2, and L3 are unstable and require station-keeping maneuvers to maintain a spacecraft in their vicinity.