OT Question for Astronomers

[Loser]

Looks like Triton's orbit is inclined about 157 degrees to the plane of Neptune's rotation, and Neptune's rotation is inclined about 30 degrees off the plane of its orbit around Sol.

Am I supposed to add these two to get the inclination of Triton's rotation (which is the same as it's orbit of Neptune as it is tidelocked) to Sol? That would make enough sense, as that would fit what I've read about Triton having a retrograde orbit.

But, I've also read that Triton turns its pole to the Sun, more like the whole regular portion of the Uranian system. This would not fit with the whole 'add them' thing as it 187 degrees of inclination is nearly parallel. It would also make the whole 'retrograde' thing hard for me to grasp.

So which is it?

I've got some links.

http://www.projectpluto.com/nsats.htm
http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/features...ne/triton.html
http://seds.lpl.arizona.edu/nineplan...ts/triton.html
http://www.ifa.hawaii.edu/~sheppard/...epsatdata.html


Links with answers.... please?

[ October 28, 2003, 19:08: Message edited by: Loser ]