Astrodynamics Definition and 11 Threads

Hi! I'm fascinated by the apparent "concentration" of the four large Galilean moons in a barely 1.5 million km "strip", and the vast, "empty" distance to the next moons (moonlets?) Out of a purely aesthetic sense of horror vacui, :wink: I've always wondered if there was at least another Jovian...

So this should be coming easily, but for some reason I can't seem to grasp why or how this is being done: So say we have equation: 0 = a + (μ/r3) r , where μ = G(M+m) or ≈ GM and M >> m. According to this book, the first step to finding ξ, the Specific Mechanical/Orbital Energy they dot...

How would a solar system need to be set up to provide a life bearing world, standard 1 g, with the surface area of Jupiter with a standard day / night 24 hour cycle?

I'm trying to plot the solutions of the second order differential equation d^2R/dt^2 = GM/R^2 + Lz^2/R^3. I'm reducing this to a system of first order ODEs and then using RK4 to solve this system. My code is given by function RK4system() Tsim = 10...

Using the well established classical equation to determine the sum of kinetic and potential energies of a satellite at two different altitudes, the result is a lower total energy at the higher altitude. Since the speed is less and the height is greater I think I understand this result. Yet I...

I've been trying to figure out how to calculate if a satellite is in view of a ground station (and above a certain elevation) using just position vectors for both satellite and ground station. Does anyone know of an equation, algorithm, etc. that does this? Thanks

First of all, I am sorry if this is in the wrong subforum; I'm not sure if astrodynamics should be under astronomy. The post is also fairly long. My problem is that in my derivation of the center of mass of a binary system, I get a conflicting result for the distances of the center of mass to...

I know that Keplar's First law is true, but it doesn't occur to me why do stars orbit the center of gravity. Is there a proof for that, or a way for me to visualise why? Also, to measure the eccentricity of the orbit, e^2=1+(2E(L^2))/(GM(m^2)). How did they derive this equation?

So I don't feel as freaked out as I did before reading the Tips sticky about making sure every bit of science is plausible. I would like to try and keep it believable for the immersion though. http://gizmodo.com/could-the-sun-be-extinguished-by-a-bucket-of-water-just-1669914928 It all started...

Hi I am a want to be writer that has high hopes publishing before I am 70, maybe. lol I have a short story idea that is slowly turning into a small novel and even if it never publishes I would like to keep junk science out of it. I am not sure where to post the thread for it or if this is the...

Hello all. The title of this thread sums up my question - what is the difference between orbital mechanics and astrodynamics ? Or is there a difference at all ? I have sometimes seen different uses of the terms, for example, on many sites I see " astrodynamics or orbital mechanics is ... " ...