Jump to content

What is this orbit called?


Recommended Posts

I'm currently using the Kethane plugin, along with a bunch of others, and am scanning the Mun looking for good locations for a base.

I put the scanning satellite into a polar orbit that is (sorta-not-really-but-kinda) tidally locked to the sun, as shown in the attachment, mainly to ensure I scan the whole surface, but also to simulate meeting the energy needs of the scanner. Its constantly in use, so needs to be constantly in the sunlight. OCD? Me? Nah...

I was just wondering if this sort of orbit had a particular name because I know how astrophysicists love to name stuff. I still can't find Wolf 1 - 358 though...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yeah the image is my screenshot, I just dont know if thats what the orbit type is actually called.

Personally I'm hoping its something like a Trans-Perpendicular Eccliptic Bisector or something equally techie and obscure :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The plane of an orbit is fixed only with respect to the "fixed stars," which is an old term for the part of the skyscape so far away that it appears to be permanently changeless without the use of astronomical instruments. One-quarter of a Kerbin year (whatever that works out to be) later, this orbit will be perpendicular to the sun, so I don't think it has a special name.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The plane of an orbit is fixed only with respect to the "fixed stars," which is an old term for the part of the skyscape so far away that it appears to be permanently changeless without the use of astronomical instruments. One-quarter of a Kerbin year (whatever that works out to be) later, this orbit will be perpendicular to the sun, so I don't think it has a special name.

I thought something like that would happen. Ah well, its a good thing the satellite has an ion engine otherwise I'd need to run a fuel line from KSC

It's simply a polar orbit, as far as I know. Do astrophysicists love naming things that much? :P

Well... maybe not, but I do :P If I changed the name to Trans-perpendicular Eccliptic Disector I could call it TED. Yeah I'll do that :D

That's a polar orbit... You're not tidally locked to the sun.....

Yeah, I know. Hence the "sorta not really but kinda". I don't think the KSP engine does tidal locking anyway, does it?. Or if it did my poor pc would melt in the attempt.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don't think the KSP engine does tidal locking anyway, does it?. Or if it did my poor pc would melt in the attempt.

Well, it does allow for tidally locked bodies (Kerbin and Mun are tidally locked, just like Earth and our moon), but the process of tidal locking isn't included.

Seeing how tidal locking occurs due to the friction of fluids or gasses flowing over a body (hence the name 'tidal lock'), caused by it's satellite (or vice versa) it's not possible to tidally lock to the sun or Kerbol with a spaceship.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If you do the burns necessary to shift your orbit plane accordingl (I believe what you're trying to do is keep shifting your orbit so you stay over the Munar terminator here, yes?), it would be called a sun-synchronous orbit.

Ahh thats what its called. I spent a fair while searching but never included the word "sun" in the search parameters. I'm a twit.

Reading that, it looks like I can't set up a stable sun-sync orbit even if the game mechanics allowed it, because the Mun isn't oblate. Which just means I'll have to maintain it myself. Oh noes! I have to play KSP regularly. What a shame :D

Thanks, everyone

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It probably is, but it wouldn't be an easy one to achieve, by any means.

Well first I just want to point out that the question from the OP has been answered. However, the orbit in the provided picture is just a polar orbit (90 degree inclination).

As for setting up a stable sun-synchronous orbit in KSP, I would say that it is not possible. Reason being that, according to the Wikipedia entry maltesh provided...

The uniformity of Sun angle is achieved by tuning the inclination to the altitude of the orbit (details in section "Technical details") such that the extra mass near the equator causes orbital plane of the spacecraft to precess with the desired rate: the plane of the orbit is not fixed in space relative to the distant stars, but rotates slowly about the Earth's axis.

With the patched conics that KSP uses, such things as "extra mass near the equator" don't exist. Also, as I pointed out, such orbits are not polar since they are not 90 degrees.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I still can't find Wolf 1 - 358 though...

If you're interested, it's named Wolf 359 because it's the 359th star listed in Max Wolf's catalog of stars with high proper motions, and it's named after him because he's the one who discovered it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If you're interested, it's named Wolf 359 because it's the 359th star listed in Max Wolf's catalog of stars with high proper motions, and it's named after him because he's the one who discovered it.

Oh really? Thats cool, I've always wondered why it was '359'. Thanks for furthering my education :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.
×
×
  • Create New...