Lagrange Points
Lagrange Points are five points in space where the gravitational forces of two large bodies, such as the Earth and the Moon or the Earth and the Sun, balance the centripetal force felt by a smaller object, such as a spacecraft. These points are named after Joseph-Louis Lagrange, an Italian-French mathematician who first calculated their existence in 1772. The five Lagrange Points are L1, L2, L3, L4, and L5. L1 is located between the two large bodies, while L2 and L3 are located on the opposite side of the smaller body. L4 and L5 are located at equilateral triangles with the smaller body and the two large bodies. Lagrange Points are important in space exploration because they allow spacecraft to remain in a stable position relative to the two large bodies without using a lot of fuel.
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