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Orbital mechanics

N-Body Dynamics

The gravitational motion of many bodies at once. Beyond two bodies there is no general closed-form solution, so the positions of the planets and moons are found by integrating the equations of motion numerically — the basis of modern ephemerides.

Across celestial mechanics

Knowledge connections

Sources

The primary and reference sources this topic draws on.

  • NASA JPLJet Propulsion Laboratory / Solar System Dynamics

    Orbital data, ephemerides, and small-body parameters for planets, asteroids, and comets.