Calculate error of Jupiters location? - Answers

Jupiter's location is not an error. It's right where it's supposed to be. It is difficult to have zero error when working out positions in space because of the distances involved, the further away the object the larger the margin of error. Jupiter is fairly close (cosmically speaking) so the error is very small. However due the the gravitational influence of the other planets, its orbit is not an exact mathematical ellipse. Therefore we have a very small error of perhaps +/- 1km when working out the location, this is tiny when you consider the million kilometre distances that Jupiter travels in its orbit. Also the sheer size of Jupiter makes it more difficult to be precise as the location is calculated from where the centre of the planet would be.