Compute orbital mechanics precisely

Compute planetary and spacecraft trajectories

Predicting comet/asteroid/exoplanet positions and designing spacecraft transfer orbits.

• · orbital elements (a, e, i, Ω, ω, ν) or position+velocity
• · epoch time
• · target body mass

• · future position (x,y,z)
• · velocity (vx,vy,vz)
• · period, aphelion/perihelion

Newtonian gravity sufficient; relativistic correction needed for Mercury/pulsars

• · Perturbations from third bodies not modeled
• · Non-spherical mass distribution
• · Atmospheric drag unaccounted

• · Kepler's three laws derivation
• · vis-viva equation
• · worked binary-star mass example