Editing Center of mass (section)

=== {{anchor|Barycenter in astronomy|Barycenter in astrophysics and astronomy|Sun-Jupiter barycenter}} Astronomy ===
{{Main|Barycenter}}[[File:orbit3.gif|thumb|180px|Two bodies orbiting their [[barycenter]] (red cross)]]

The center of mass plays an important role in astronomy and astrophysics, where it is commonly referred to as the ''barycenter''. The barycenter is the point between two objects where they balance each other; it is the center of mass where two or more celestial bodies [[orbit]] each other. When a [[natural satellite|moon]] orbits a [[planet]], or a planet orbits a [[star]], both bodies are actually orbiting a point that lies away from the center of the primary (larger) body.{{sfn|Murray|Dermott|1999|pp=45–47}} For example, the Moon does not orbit the exact center of the [[Earth]], but a point on a line between the center of the Earth and the Moon, approximately 1,710&nbsp;km (1,062&nbsp;miles) below the surface of the Earth, where their respective masses balance. This is the point about which the Earth and Moon orbit as they travel around the [[Sun]]. If the masses are more similar, e.g., [[Charon (moon)#Orbit|Pluto and Charon]], the barycenter will fall outside both bodies.