- #1
AbsentMinded
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I have a function to plot the orbits of planets based on their orbital elements (Semi-major Axis, Eccentricity, Argument of periapsis, Inclination, and longitude of ascending node). I have the x and y coordinates working great using only the semi-major axis, eccentricity, and argument of periapsis. Now I'm having trouble taking things into the third dimension with the inclination and longitude of ascending node. I know I need to get the distance from the longitude of the ascending node, and multiply it by sin(inclination), but I'm having trouble. Here's what I have so far:
apoapsis = (1+eccentricity)*SemiMajor;
periapsis = (1-eccentricity)*SemiMajor;
Semi-Minor = sqrt(apoapsis*periapsis);
SunFocus = sqrt((SemiMajor)^2-(SemiMinor)^2);
xc = SunFocus*cos(ArgOfPeriapsis);
yc = SunFocus*sin(ArgOfPeriapsis);
x = xc + SemiMajor*cos(time)*cos(ArgOfPeriapsis) - SemiMinor*sin(time)*sin(ArgOfPeriapsis);
y = yc + SemiMajor*cos(time)*sin(ArgOfPeriapsis) + SemiMinor*sin(time)*cos(ArgOfPeriapsis);
z = ?
This is psuedocode of a Matlab function. The inputs are the 5 orbital elements listed above (no mean anomaly for now). The orbits plot perfectly in two dimensions for every object I've thrown at it (plantes, dwarfs, comets, etc.), but I really want to get the inclination in there for 3 dimensions. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
apoapsis = (1+eccentricity)*SemiMajor;
periapsis = (1-eccentricity)*SemiMajor;
Semi-Minor = sqrt(apoapsis*periapsis);
SunFocus = sqrt((SemiMajor)^2-(SemiMinor)^2);
xc = SunFocus*cos(ArgOfPeriapsis);
yc = SunFocus*sin(ArgOfPeriapsis);
x = xc + SemiMajor*cos(time)*cos(ArgOfPeriapsis) - SemiMinor*sin(time)*sin(ArgOfPeriapsis);
y = yc + SemiMajor*cos(time)*sin(ArgOfPeriapsis) + SemiMinor*sin(time)*cos(ArgOfPeriapsis);
z = ?
This is psuedocode of a Matlab function. The inputs are the 5 orbital elements listed above (no mean anomaly for now). The orbits plot perfectly in two dimensions for every object I've thrown at it (plantes, dwarfs, comets, etc.), but I really want to get the inclination in there for 3 dimensions. Any help would be greatly appreciated.