Definition:Kepler's Equation

From ProofWiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Definition

Consider a system consisting of two bodies $B_1$ and $B_2$ in elliptical orbit around each other.

Let $e$ denote the eccentricity of that orbit.

Kepler's equation is the equation that describes the relation between the mean anomaly and eccentric anomaly of $B_1$ with respect to $B_2$:

$M = E - e \sin E$

where:

$M$ is the mean anomaly
$E$ is the eccentric anomaly.


Source of Name

This entry was named for Johannes Kepler.


Sources