Mean anomaly Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description
In the study of orbital dynamics the mean anomaly is a measure of time, specific to the orbiting body p, which is a multiple of 2π radians at and only at periapsis. It is the fraction of the orbital period that has elapsed since the last passage at pericentre s, expressed as an angle. In the diagram below, it is M (the angle z-c-y).
The point y is defined such that the circular sector area z-c-y is equal to the elliptic sector area z-s-p, scaled up by the ratio of the major to minor axes of the ellipse.
Calculation
In astrodynamics mean anomaly can be calculated as follows:
where:
- is orbit's eccentric anomaly,
- is orbit's eccentricity.
See also
This is an Article on Mean anomaly. Page Contains Information, Facts Details or Explanation Guide About Mean anomaly