True anomaly Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description
The true anomaly () is the angle between the direction z-s of periapsis and the current position p of an object on its orbit, measured at the focus s of the ellipse (the point around which the object orbits). In the diagram below, true anomaly is the angle z-s-p.
Calculation from state vectors
For elliptic orbits true anomaly can be calculated from orbital state vectors as:
- (if then )
- is orbital velocity vector of the orbiting body's,
- is eccentricity vector,
- is orbital position vector of the orbiting body's.
For circular orbits this can be simplified to:
- (if then )
- is vector pointing towards the ascending node (i.e. the z-component of is zero).
For circular orbits with the inclination of zero this can be simplified further to:
- (if then )
- is x-component of orbital position vector ,
- is x-component of orbital velocity vector .
See also
This is an Article on True anomaly. Page Contains Information, Facts Details or Explanation Guide About True anomaly
