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  2. Orbital plane - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orbital_plane

    An orbital plane as viewed relative to a plane of reference. An orbital plane can also be seen in relative to conic sections, in which the orbital path is defined as the intersection between a plane and a cone. Parabolic (1) and hyperbolic (3) orbits are escape orbits, whereas elliptical and circular orbits (2) are captive. The orbital plane of ...

  3. Orbital inclination - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orbital_inclination

    It is expressed as the angle between a reference plane and the orbital plane or axis of direction of the orbiting object. For a satellite orbiting the Earth directly above the Equator, the plane of the satellite's orbit is the same as the Earth's equatorial plane, and the satellite's orbital inclination is 0°. The general case for a circular ...

  4. Orbital plane of reference - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orbital_plane_of_reference

    The ecliptic or invariable plane for planets, asteroids, comets, etc. within the Solar System, as these bodies generally have orbits that lie close to the ecliptic. The equatorial plane of the orbited body for satellites orbiting with small semi-major axes; The local Laplace plane for satellites orbiting with intermediate-to-large semi-major axes

  5. Longitude of the ascending node - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longitude_of_the_ascending...

    The reference plane is assumed to be the xy-plane, and the origin of longitude is taken to be the positive x-axis. k is the unit vector (0, 0, 1), which is the normal vector to the xy reference plane. For non-inclined orbits (with inclination equal to zero), ☊ is undefined.

  6. Glossary of astronomy - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glossary_of_astronomy

    A diagram showing four of the six canonical orbital elements. The orbital plane (yellow) intersects a reference plane (grey). orbital inclination The tilt of an object's orbit around an astronomical body, expressed as the angle between the orbital plane or axis of direction of the orbiting object and a plane of reference. orbital mechanics ...

  7. Ecliptic - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecliptic

    The ecliptic or ecliptic plane is the orbital plane of Earth around the Sun. [ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ a ] From the perspective of an observer on Earth, the Sun's movement around the celestial sphere over the course of a year traces out a path along the ecliptic against the background of stars . [ 3 ]

  8. Axial tilt - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axial_tilt

    The positive pole of a planet is defined by the right-hand rule: if the fingers of the right hand are curled in the direction of the rotation then the thumb points to the positive pole. The axial tilt is defined as the angle between the direction of the positive pole and the normal to the orbital plane.

  9. Orbital elements - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orbital_elements

    K̂ is perpendicular to the reference plane. Orbital elements of bodies (planets, comets, asteroids, ...) in the Solar System usually the ecliptic as that plane. x̂, ŷ are in the orbital plane and with x̂ in the direction to the pericenter . ẑ is perpendicular to the plane of the orbit. ŷ is mutually perpendicular to x̂ and ẑ.