Orbital Node - Planes of Reference

Planes of Reference

Common planes of reference include:

  • For a geocentric orbit, the Earth's equatorial plane. In this case, non-inclined orbits are called equatorial.
  • For a heliocentric orbit, the ecliptic. In this case, non-inclined orbits are called ecliptic.
  • For an orbit outside the Solar System, the plane through the primary perpendicular to a line through the observer and the primary (called the plane of the sky)., chap. 17.

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Famous quotes containing the words planes and/or reference:

    After the planes unloaded, we fell down
    Buried together, unmarried men and women;
    Robert Lowell (1917–1977)

    The common behavior of mankind is the system of reference by means of which we interpret an unknown language.
    Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889–1951)