Orbital mechanics
Orbital Perturbations
The small departures of a real orbit from a perfect two-body ellipse — caused by the pull of other bodies, a planet's equatorial bulge, atmospheric drag, and radiation. They accumulate over time, which is why orbits must be tracked and recomputed continually.
Bodies, frames & concepts
Across celestial mechanics
Knowledge connections
- Associated withN-Body Dynamics
- Associated withN-Body Dynamics
- Associated withSecular Resonance
- Associated withMean-Motion Resonance
- Associated withSecular Resonance
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.