At a certain moment, an asteroid has this position in heliocentric ecliptic coordinates. (Distances are in astronomical units.)
x= +0.5877971
y= -2.098983
z= -0.008080998
You are able to determine the inclination and longitude of ascending node for the orbit.
i = 0.003996730 radians
L= 6.170532 radians
You know the true anomaly for that point in the orbit.
Q= 3.14159265 radians
What is the argument of the perihelion for the orbit?
2006-07-22
08:15:17
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2 answers
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asked by
David S
5
in
Science & Mathematics
➔ Astronomy & Space
There is enough information in the question to determine the argument of the perihelion. You don't need to know the eccentricity (shape) or the semimajor axis (size) in order to determine the orientation of the plane in space.
2006-07-22
14:29:33 ·
update #1