Initial orbit determination - The pragmatist's point of view

Abstract

view Abstract Citations (26) References (16) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS Initial orbit determination - The pragmatist's point of view Marsden, B. G. Abstract The practicality of the standard Gauss method and the Väisälä-Cunningham variant is discussed from the point of view of modern computational technology. The methods are considered both in their general form and when they are adapted to handle the partial knowledge that might exist in a given situation. A demonstration is given of the direct linkage of two observations of a minor planet at one opposition with one at a neighboring opposition and thus how three-observation orbit determinations can sometimes be of value in identfication work on minor planets. Taff's criticism of Gauss' method of initial orbit determination of the grounds of the small radius of convergence of the f and g series is shown to be completely unwarranted. Publication: The Astronomical Journal Pub Date: August 1985 DOI: 10.1086/113867 Bibcode: 1985AJ.....90.1541M Keywords: Asteroids; Celestial Mechanics; Gauss Equation; Orbit Calculation; Solar Orbits; Amor Asteroid; Boundary Value Problems; Iterative Solution; Series Expansion; Astronomy full text sources ADS |