Plotting the orbits of the planets from Ephemeris data

  • #1
Jor
1
0
TL;DR Summary
plotting the position of planets. Describe the orbits of the planets.
Using Ephemeris data from the JPL Horizons System.
I would like to plot the position of planets around the Sun for different dates and describe their orbits.
I got the Ephemeris data for each planet from the JPL Horizons System, I got:

Date__(UT)__HR:MN R.A.___(ICRF)___DEC Ang-diam ObsSub-LON ObsSub-LAT ObsEcLon ObsEcLat

however I could not figure out how to plot the orbit since I did not get any distance.
I would like to obtain dates, distance from the sun and the corresponding latitude to plot the 2D orbits.
I understand these the coordinate system of the JPL Ephemeris are centered at the barycenter of the Solar System, so in principle I would not need a coordinate transformation.

Any ideas or suggestions on how to get the data needed to plot the orbits?
Cheers,
Jor
 
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  • #2
You need to edit the table settings and choose heliocentric distance. This will be the objects distance from the Sun. You can also choose the observer distance. You should see the following columns added:

r__rdot__delta__deldot

with r being the objects distance to the sun, delta being the observers distance.
 
Last edited:

Related to Plotting the orbits of the planets from Ephemeris data

1. How accurate are the plotted orbits of the planets using Ephemeris data?

The plotted orbits of the planets using Ephemeris data are highly accurate, with deviations typically within a few arcseconds of the actual positions of the planets in the sky. This level of accuracy allows astronomers to predict the positions of the planets with great precision.

2. What is Ephemeris data and how is it used to plot the orbits of the planets?

Ephemeris data provides the positions of celestial objects at specific times. By using this data, scientists can calculate the positions of the planets at any given time and plot their orbits accordingly. This data is crucial for accurately tracking the movements of the planets in our solar system.

3. Can Ephemeris data be used to predict future positions of the planets?

Yes, Ephemeris data can be used to predict the future positions of the planets with great accuracy. By calculating the orbits of the planets based on this data, astronomers can forecast where each planet will be at any given time in the future.

4. Are there any limitations to plotting the orbits of the planets using Ephemeris data?

While Ephemeris data is highly accurate, there are some limitations to plotting the orbits of the planets. Factors such as gravitational interactions with other celestial bodies and relativistic effects can cause small deviations in the predicted positions of the planets over long periods of time.

5. How often is Ephemeris data updated to ensure accurate plotting of the orbits of the planets?

Ephemeris data is regularly updated by organizations such as NASA to ensure the most accurate predictions of the positions of the planets. New observations and calculations are constantly being incorporated into the data to improve the accuracy of the plotted orbits of the planets.

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