CLASSICAL ORBITAL ELEMENTS
a |
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the semi-major axis (km): defines the size of the orbit. |
e |
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eccentricity: defines the shape of the orbit, (e.g when e = 0 it is a circle). |
i |
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inclination (degrees): the path of the body lies in an orbit plane and 'inclination' specifies the angle between the orbit
plane and another plane. For bodies orbiting the Earth, inclination is measured relative to the Earth’s equator. For
bodies orbit the Sun, inclination is measured relative the ecliptic, the plane defined by the Earth's orbit about the Sun.
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right ascension of the ascending node (degrees): the orientation of the orbit's plane in space is defined by this parameter.
It is the angle between the point at which the body passes through the orbit's plane going from south to north and a point
in space called the vernal equinox.
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argument of perigee (degrees): the perigee (for objects orbiting the Earth - more generally called the periapsis of the orbit)
is the point on the orbit at which the body is closest to the body it is orbiting, i.e. it's lowest altitude. The argument of
perigee is the angle from the right ascension of the ascending node (see above) to the perigee and so defines the orientation
of the orbit in the orbit plane.
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true anomaly (degress): defines the position of the body in the orbit and is an angle measured from the perigee to the body. |
For more information on the mathematics of planetary orbits please visit
this NASA site or this one by
Robert Braeunig.
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