Definitions
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun astronomy An orbital parameter of a celestial body (in an elliptic orbit); the
mean motion multiplied by the time since the last passage throughperiapsis ; the angle PCM (measured inradians ) defined by P = the periapsis, C = the center of the elliptical orbit, and M = themean planet .
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deinonychus commented on the word mean anomaly
"In celestial mechanics, the mean anomaly is a parameter relating position and time for a body moving in a Kepler orbit. It is based on the fact that equal areas are swept at the focus in equal intervals of time."
"The mean anomaly is one of three angular parameters ('anomalies') that define a position along an orbit; the other two being the eccentric anomaly and the true anomaly."
(Wikipedia)
May 12, 2012
milosrdenstvi commented on the word mean anomaly
Why can't the anomaly just be nice like everybody else?
May 14, 2012
deinonychus commented on the word mean anomaly
I know! I really prefer the eccentric anomaly.
May 14, 2012