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Showing results for tags 'elliptical orbits'.
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UPDATE: New thread created for 3D model that does everything this model does and more. Original post below: I've been exploring optimization solutions lately for my interplanetary communications network, and was having a hard time wrapping my head around some of the math and picturing the system in my head. So I did some research and learned some equations and relationships and found a nice free graphing software to bring it all together. I worked out the polar coordinate equation for each planet's elliptical orbit and plotted it. What came of the exercise was a scale model of the Kerbol System, viewed from the top down, with all planets' orbits represented accurately in terms of: major and minor axes foci (Kerbol in the correct position) eccentricity longitude of ascending node (how a planet's orbit is tilted relative to a reference direction) argument of periapsis (where the Pe is located; given relative to the longitude of the ascending node) (As far as I can tell, imgur album embedding is broken at the moment--please correct me if I'm wrong--so forgive the screen-captures.) ^Model overview ^Inner planets ^Tidied up a little (disabled grid-lines, too) ^Just Kerbin, Jool, and Eeloo nicely visualized The only thing this tool doesn't properly portray is orbital inclination, as that would be in a third dimension. I may look into that soon. We'll see. To use: Download and install GeoGebra on damn-near any platform, or use the web app Download the .gbb file I've l inked here from Dropbox Open, explore, modify... enjoy! At the moment, it's a fairly bare-bones item, with only the most essential information included, but it may just end up growing into something more substantial, whether for my own use, or at the request of the community. I don't know if any licensing is necessary here, but if it is, let's say.... MIT (referring only to the .gbb I've shared. GeoGebra has its own licensing policy). A few notes for clarity: Scale is in megameters (1Mm = 1,000km = 1,000,000m Visibility of elements can be turned on/off in the left pane. This can help with crowding when zoomed out past the inner planets. Π is used to denote the location of the ascending node (normally I would use ☊ but GeoGebra does not support it) Ω denotes the longitude of the ascending node (an angle) ω denotes the argument of periapsis (an angle) γ is used to denote the reference direction, along the x-axis (normally I would use ♈ but GeoGebra does not support it)
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