A discussion on orbital analysis - Odd zonal harmonics in the geopotential, determined from fourteen well-distributed satellite orbits

Abstract

Coefficients of the odd zonal harmonics in the Earth’s gravitational potential are evaluated by analysing the oscillations in orbital eccentricity of fourteen satellites chosen to give the widest and most uniform possible distribution in orbital inclination and semi-major axis. The best representations of the odd zonal harmonics are found to be in terms of seven coefficients (J5, */15)) or ten coefficients (J 3,J 5, J 21) and values for these coefficients are given. A detailed account of this work is being published in Planetary and Space Science.