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  2. Semi-major and semi-minor axes - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semi-major_and_semi-minor_axes

    The semi-minor axis of an ellipse runs from the center of the ellipse (a point halfway between and on the line running between the foci) to the edge of the ellipse. The semi-minor axis is half of the minor axis. The minor axis is the longest line segment perpendicular to the major axis that connects two points on the ellipse's edge.

  3. Kepler's laws of planetary motion - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kepler's_laws_of_planetary...

    The planetary orbit is a circle with epicycles. The Sun is approximately at the center of the orbit. The speed of the planet in the main orbit is constant. Despite being correct in saying that the planets revolved around the Sun, Copernicus was incorrect in defining their orbits.

  4. Apsis - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apsis

    The apsides refer to the farthest (2) and nearest (3) points reached by an orbiting planetary body (2 and 3) with respect to a primary, or host, body (1). An apsis (from Ancient Greek ἁψίς (hapsís) 'arch, vault'; pl. apsides / ˈ æ p s ɪ ˌ d iː z / AP-sih-deez) [1] [2] is the farthest or nearest point in the orbit of a planetary body about its primary body.

  5. Orbital eccentricity - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orbital_eccentricity

    For elliptical orbits, a simple proof shows that ⁡ gives the projection angle of a perfect circle to an ellipse of eccentricity e. For example, to view the eccentricity of the planet Mercury (e = 0.2056), one must simply calculate the inverse sine to find the projection angle of 11.86 degrees. Then, tilting any circular object by that angle ...

  6. Newton's theorem of revolving orbits - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newton's_theorem_of...

    All three planets (red, blue and green) are at the same distance r from the center of force C. It is required to make a body move in a curve that revolves about the center of force in the same manner as another body in the same curve at rest. [42] Newton's derivation of Proposition 43 depends on his Proposition 2, derived earlier in the ...

  7. Kepler's equation - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kepler's_equation

    a trajectory that goes back and forth along a line segment from the centre of attraction to a point at some distance away, a trajectory going in or out along an infinite ray emanating from the centre of attraction, with its speed going to zero with distance; or a trajectory along a ray, but with speed not going to zero with distance.

  8. Orbit equation - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orbit_equation

    In astrodynamics, an orbit equation defines the path of orbiting body around central body relative to , without specifying position as a function of time.Under standard assumptions, a body moving under the influence of a force, directed to a central body, with a magnitude inversely proportional to the square of the distance (such as gravity), has an orbit that is a conic section (i.e. circular ...

  9. Eccentricity (mathematics) - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eccentricity_(mathematics)

    The linear eccentricity of an ellipse or hyperbola, denoted c (or sometimes f or e), is the distance between its center and either of its two foci. The eccentricity can be defined as the ratio of the linear eccentricity to the semimajor axis a : that is, e = c a {\displaystyle e={\frac {c}{a}}} (lacking a center, the linear eccentricity for ...