Keplerian Elements (aka Satellite Orbital Elements)


Keplerian Elements, also known as Satellite Orbital Elements, are a set of parameters that define the orbit of a satellite around a celestial body. These elements include the semi-major axis, eccentricity, inclination, right ascension of the ascending node, argument of periapsis, and mean anomaly. The semi-major axis defines the size of the orbit, while the eccentricity describes its shape. Inclination is the angle between the orbital plane and the reference plane, and the right ascension of the ascending node is the angle between the reference direction and the point where the orbit crosses the reference plane from south to north. The argument of periapsis is the angle between the ascending node and the point of closest approach to the central body, and the mean anomaly is the fraction of the orbital period that has elapsed since the satellite passed periapsis.


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