What are gravitational perturbations?

Gravitational perturbations are like when something nudges a planet or moon in its path, just enough to change its journey slightly.

Imagine you're on a swing. You’re going back and forth, right? But then your friend gives you a little push at just the right time. That tiny nudge changes how high you go, that’s like gravitational perturbations.

When planets orbit the Sun, they usually follow smooth paths. But sometimes other objects, like moons or nearby planets, nudge them just enough to change their path slightly. It's not a big change, but over time it can make a difference.

Think of it like playing tag in a crowded playground: you're running one way, but someone bumps into you from the side, that bump changes your direction for a moment.

The Moon is pulled by both Earth and the Sun. Sometimes these pulls nudge the Moon just enough to make its orbit wobble slightly. This is why we have different types of tides, like spring tides and neap tides, it's all because of those little nudges!