The Wikipedia article on Sphere of influence states that:
"A sphere of influence (SOI) in astrodynamics and astronomy is the oblate-spheroid-shaped region around a celestial body where the primary gravitational influence on an orbiting object is that body." (Emphasis added.)
It then gives an expression for the radius of the sphere of influence.
Is the SOI a spherical region or a oblate-spheroid-shaped region? If it is an oblate-spheroid-shaped region, then why?
Is the SOI a spherical region or a oblate-spheroid-shaped region?
The sphere of influence is neither a sphere nor an oblate spheroid. It is a surface with no name. An approximation of this surface is
$$\left(\frac r R\right)^{10}(1+3\cos^2\theta) = \left( \frac m M \right)^4$$
This is neither a sphere nor an oblate spheroid, and this is but an approximation. Thefull expression is an absolute mess. Dropping the factor of $(1+3\cos^2\theta)^{1/10}$ (which is close to one) yields
$$r = \left( \frac m M \right)^{2/5} R$$
Tada! The equation of a sphere!
The true surface is defined in terms of two ratios. Consider two gravitating bodies, call them body A and body B. From the perspective of an inertial frame, the acceleration of a tiny test mass toward these two bodies is given by Newton's law of gravitation. These two bodies accelerate toward one another as well, so a frame based at the origin of either body is non-inertial.
From the perspective of a frame at the center of body A, the acceleration of the test mass is the inertial frame acceleration of the test mass toward body A plus the inertial frame acceleration of the test mass toward body B less the acceleration of body A toward body B. Denote the acceleration of the test mass toward body A as the primary acceleration and the difference between the inertial frame accelerations of the test mass and body A toward body B as the disturbing acceleration. Finally, define $Q_A$ as the ratio of these two. Now do the same for a frame with origin at the center of body B. The sphere of influence is that surface where $Q_A = Q_B$.
