Calculation
Eccentricity of an orbit can be calculated from orbital state vectors as a magnitude of eccentricity vector:
where:
- is eccentricity vector.
For elliptical orbits it can also be calculated from distance at apoapsis and periapsis:
where:
- is radius at apoapsis (i.e., the farthest distance of the orbit to the center of mass of the system, which is a focus of the ellipse).
- is radius at periapsis (the closest distance).
The eccentricity of an elliptical orbit can also be used to obtain the ratio of the periapsis to the apoapsis:
Read more about this topic: Orbital Eccentricity
Famous quotes containing the word calculation:
“Common sense is the measure of the possible; it is composed of experience and prevision; it is calculation appled to life.”
—Henri-Frédéric Amiel (1821–1881)
““To my thinking” boomed the Professor, begging the question as usual, “the greatest triumph of the human mind was the calculation of Neptune from the observed vagaries of the orbit of Uranus.”
“And yours,” said the P.B.”
—Samuel Beckett (1906–1989)