| Orbits of objects going around the sun are discussed in terms of their orientation with respect to three different planes. These are the plane of the orbit in question, the plane of the earth’s orbit (also known as the plane of the ecliptic), and the plane of the celestial equator. The elliptical orbit has center C and focus S. Six elements may be used to describe an orbit: size (periapsis distance SP), elongation (eccentricity e, which is the ratio CS/CP), longitude of the ascending node (angle Ω), argument of periapsis (angle ω), inclination (angle i), and the time when the orbiting body is at the periapsis. |
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