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For specific applications of Kepler’s equation, see anomaly M from the time and the mean motion n by the
Kepler’s laws of planetary motion. formula M = n(t − t0 ), then solve the Kepler equation
In orbital mechanics, Kepler’s equation relates various above to get E, then get the coordinates from:
2 Alternate forms
There are several forms of Kepler’s equation. Each form
is associated with a specific type of orbit. The standard
Kepler equation is used for elliptic orbits (0 ≤ e < 1). The
hyperbolic Kepler equation is used for hyperbolic orbits
(e ≫ 1). The radial Kepler equation is used for linear (ra-
dial) orbits (e = 1). Barker’s equation is used for parabolic
orbits (e = 1). When e = 1, Kepler’s equation is not asso-
ciated with an orbit.
Kepler’s equation solutions for five different eccentricities between When e = 0, the orbit is circular. Increasing e causes the
0 and 1
circle to flatten into an ellipse. When e = 1, the orbit is
geometric properties of the orbit of a body subject to a completely flat, and it appears to be a either a segment
central force. if the orbit is closed, or a ray if the orbit is open. An
infinitesimal increase to e results in a hyperbolic orbit with
It was first derived by Johannes Kepler in 1609 in Chap- a turning angle of 180 degrees, and the orbit appears to
ter 60 of his Astronomia nova,[1][2] and in book V of be a ray. Further increases reduce the turning angle, and
his Epitome of Copernican Astronomy (1621) Kepler pro- as e goes to infinity, the orbit becomes a straight line of
posed an iterative solution to the equation.[3][4] The equa- infinite length.
tion has played an important role in the history of both
physics and mathematics, particularly classical celestial
mechanics. 2.1 Hyperbolic Kepler equation
The Hyperbolic Kepler equation is:
1 Equation
Kepler’s equation is where H is the hyperbolic eccentric anomaly. This equa-
tion is derived by multiplying Kepler’s equation by the
square root of −1; i = √−1 for imaginary unit, and replac-
ing
where M is the mean anomaly, E is the eccentric anomaly,
and e is the eccentricity.
The 'eccentric anomaly' E is useful to compute the posi- E = iH
tion of a point moving in a Keplerian orbit. As for in- to obtain
stance, if the body passes the periastron at coordinates x
= a(1 − e), y = 0, at time t = t0 , then to find out the posi-
tion of the body at any time, you first calculate the mean M = i (E − e sin E)
1
2 4 NUMERICAL APPROXIMATION OF INVERSE PROBLEM
and setting e = 1 gives The solution for e ≠ 1 was discovered by Karl Stumpff in
1968,[7] but its significance wasn't recognized.[8]
1
t(x) = [E − sin(E)] . 3.2 Inverse radial Kepler equation
2
The inverse radial Kepler equation is:
3 Inverse problem
[ ( ( ( )
∞
∑ 2
t 3 n d n−1 3 ( −1 √ √ ))− 23 n
Calculating M for a given value of E is straightforward. x(t) = lim r n
sin ( r) − r − r 2
r→0+ n! dr n−1 2
However, solving for E when M is given can be consider- n=1
5 See also
• Kepler’s laws of planetary motion
• Kepler problem
• Kepler problem in general relativity
• Radial trajectory
6 References
[1] Kepler, Johannes (1609). “LX. Methodus, ex hac Phys-
ica, hoc est genuina & verissima hypothesi, extruendi
utramque partem æquationis, & distantias genuinas: quo-
rum utrumque simul per vicariam fieri hactenus non po-
tuit. argumentum falsæ hypotheseos”. Astronomia Nova
Aitiologētos, Seu Physica Coelestis, tradita commentariis
De Motibus Stellæ Martis, Ex observationibus G. V. Ty-
chonis Brahe (in Latin). pp. 299–300.
7 External links
• Kepler’s Equation at Wolfram Mathworld
4 8 TEXT AND IMAGE SOURCES, CONTRIBUTORS, AND LICENSES
8.2 Images
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artist: ?
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