Planet's Julian Date of a point in orbit

  • Thread starter Philosophaie
  • Start date
  • Tags
    Orbit Point
In summary, the Julian Date of a point in orbit is a system used to measure time and dates based on the number of days that have elapsed since January 1st, 4713 BC. It is commonly used in astronomy and other scientific fields to accurately track the positions of celestial bodies in their orbits. The Julian Date is calculated by adding the number of days that have passed in a given year to the number of days that have passed since the beginning of the previous year, taking into account leap years. This system is useful for providing a consistent and precise measure of time and is often used in conjunction with the Gregorian calendar.
  • #1
Philosophaie
462
0
I would like to know the Earth Date or Julian Date of the Periapsis, Vernal Equinox or any other point in the orbit for every planet in the solar system excluding Earth.
 
Astronomy news on Phys.org
  • #2
Go here:

http://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/horizons.cgi

Pick the palent you want.

change the options to give heliocentric range. Pick a date range and hit generate.

The chart will give the distance from the sun for the list of dates. Look for the date where the distance stops decreasing and starts increasing. this will be the date of periapis. (If it doesn't show up in the range of dates you used, try a new range of dates.) For instance, the next periapis for Mars falls on March 9, 2011.
 

1. What is a Julian Date?

A Julian Date is a continuous count of days and fractions of days since noon Universal Time on January 1, 4713 BCE, in the Julian calendar. It is commonly used in astronomy to simplify calculations of time and dates.

2. How is a Julian Date calculated for a point in orbit?

A Julian Date for a point in orbit is calculated by adding the number of days since the beginning of the year to the Julian Date of January 1, 4713 BCE. This number is then adjusted for the fraction of the current day, as well as any leap seconds that have occurred since the start of the year.

3. Why is a Julian Date used for points in orbit instead of a regular date?

A Julian Date is used for points in orbit because it is a continuous count of time that does not reset at the end of each day. This makes it easier to calculate and track the exact position of an object in orbit without having to worry about the date changing at midnight.

4. Can a Julian Date be converted to a regular calendar date?

Yes, a Julian Date can be converted to a regular calendar date using a conversion formula. However, this conversion is not always accurate due to variations in calendars and leap years.

5. How is a Julian Date different from a Julian Day?

A Julian Date is a count of days and fractions of days since noon Universal Time on January 1, 4713 BCE, while a Julian Day is a count of days and fractions of days since noon Universal Time on January 1, 4713 BCE, in the Julian calendar. The main difference is that a Julian Day includes a whole number for the day, while a Julian Date includes a fraction of a day as well.

Similar threads

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
Replies
1
Views
410
Replies
6
Views
772
  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
Replies
1
Views
1K
Replies
12
Views
2K
  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
Replies
13
Views
359
  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
Replies
15
Views
1K
  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
Replies
24
Views
1K
Replies
3
Views
393
  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
Replies
5
Views
2K
Replies
61
Views
1K
Back
Top