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These
are the classic orbital elements
that describe a satellite orbiting the Earth. They
are also applicable to any orbit in general.
Orbital
Elements
a
(semimajor axis)
is half of the major axis. The major axis is the
distance across the long axis of an ellipse.
e
(eccentricity)
is
a dimensionless parameter that quantifies the roundness
of an orbit. A satellite's orbit around the Earth
is elliptical, with an eccentricity between zero
and one.
i
(inclination)
is
the degree of tilt an orbital plane has with respect
to the equatorial plane.
W
(right ascension of the ascending node)
describes how the orbital
plane rotates or swivels in space around the Earth.
w
(argument of the perigee) depicts
the orientation of the orbital plane within the
equatorial plane.
n
(true anomaly)
indicates
the satellite's location in orbit at a specific
time.
