Orbital Element Definitions

a = (q+Q)/2 = q+c = Semimajor Axis

q = a(1-e) = a-c = Periapsis Distance

Q = a(1+e) = a+c = Apoapsis Distance

e = c/a = 1-q/a = Q/a-1 = Eccentricity

i = Inclination

= Longitude of Ascending Node

= Argument of Periapsis



Copyright © 1997, Alexander J. Willman, Jr. All rights reserved.
The URL of this page is: http://www.princeton.edu/~willman/planetary_systems/orbital_element_definitions.html
This page was last updated: 1997 Nov 6
You may contact Alex at: willman@princeton.edu

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