Simple Orbital Mechanics

I have always had fun calculating the movements of objects in a central gravitational field - comet, planets, space probes, etc. It is even more fun when it does not get bogged down with extensive mathematics. I have found that a lot can be done with just Kepler's laws, some simple physics, and a little algebra. That is what I will present here.

An out-of-print book inspired me to these simple endevors. It was
"Elements of Astromechanics"
by Peter van de Kamp
Freeman and Company, 1964
This is collection of articles published in the
Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (Vol 54, 1960 and Vol 56, 1962).
That journal is undergoing a change at the present time and I hope that it will do such things as is in that book.

Some Topics that I have expanded on:
1. Kepler's Laws plus orbital energies and construction of ellipses
2. Geometry of Elliptical Orbits
3. Putting it All Together with Algebra (In progress)
4. Interesting Applications of Simple Orbital Mechanics
   • Speeds In Orbit (In progress)
   • Orbital Transfers
   • Simple Explanation of Orbit Determination (In progress)
   • The Gravitational Slingshot of a Spacecraft around Jupiter

• Animation of Retrograde Motion of a Planet Motions as seen from different perspectives
• Calculation of Astronomical Times - Julian Day, Equation of Time and Siderial Time
• Phases of the Moon and its position in the sky
• Explanation of the Timings of the Ocean Tides - In preparation - 3/98