9 articles for "Orbital"

Literally, an orbit's deviation from a perfect circle. It is usually denoted by the letter e. A conic is defined as any curve which is the locus of a point which moves in such manner that the ratio of its distance from a fixed point (called the focus) to its distance from a fixed line (called the directrix) is constant. This ratio is called the eccentricity.

See also: ♦ Conic Section ♦ Orbit ♦ Eccentricity

That measure which shows the amount of devia-tion that a Body's orbit has from being a circular orbit.

See also: ♦ Conic Section ♦ Orbit ♦ Eccentricity

The solution of Newton's equations of motion for a planet orbiting the Sun requires the determination of six constants of integration at some specified epoch (time). These six constants are called the orbital elements. There are many ways to express these elements. For artificial satellite orbits, these elements are the three position components and the three velocity components at the epoch. The classic elements are the semi- major axis, the eccentricity, the mean anomaly, the argument of perihelion, the orbital inclination and the longitude of the ascending node at the epoch. See Figure O1. Sometimes the longitude of the perihelion (the longitude of the ascending node plus the argument of perihelion) is specified instead of the argument of perihelion.

See also: ♦ Ascending Node ♦ Orbital Eccentricity ♦ Epoch ♦ Semi-Major Axis ♦ Mean Anomaly ♦ Argument of Perihelion

The seven terms which are used in Celestial Mechanics to define a Body's motion in space. These are: Semi-Major Axis; Eccentricity; Inclination; Longitude of the Ascending Node; Argument of the Perihelion; Sidereal Period of the Body; and Epoch.

See also: ♦ Ascending Node ♦ Orbital Eccentricity ♦ Epoch ♦ Semi-Major Axis ♦ Mean Anomaly ♦ Argument of Perihelion

Time required for a body to complete one orbit.

See also: ♦ Sidereal Period ♦ Anomalistic Period ♦ Synodic Period ♦ Orbit

Used in the same sense as: "Sidereal Period".

See also: ♦ Sidereal Period ♦ Anomalistic Period ♦ Synodic Period ♦ Orbit

The annual motion of the Earth in an elliptical orbit round the Sun. Applicable also to the motion of any celestial body which pursues an orbit around any other body.

See also: ♦ Orbit

Shows the orbital positions of the planets with respect to the Sun. For easy viewing, the diagram is divided into two parts: the orbits of Mercury through Jupiter, and the orbits of Jupiter through Pluto. The longitudinal positions of the planets are listed below the diagram, along with their degrees of north or south (-) latitude. The diagram can be used to determine, for example, whether conjunctions of Mercury and Venus with the Sun are "interior" or "superior," or it can be used to see heliocentric alignments, which would not otherwise be apparent from the geocentric chart.

See also: ♦ Sidereal Period ♦ Anomalistic Period ♦ Synodic Period ♦ Orbit

1. Velocity of an orbiting body at any given point in its orbit.

2. The velocity required by an object to enter into orbit about another body.

Orbital Velocity may be computed from the formula:

   v = sqrt(gR2(2/r - 1/a))

where:
  R = radius of orbiting body
  r = distance from centre of mass
  a = semi-major axis of orbiting body
  g = acceleration of gravity
For a circular orbit, r=a, and:
   v = sqrt((gR2/r))
For an elliptical orbit, the period, P, is given by:
   P = 2ãa3/2/sqrt(gR2)

See also: ♦ Escape Velocity