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Apse line

 

Apse line

In astrodynamics apse line (or line of apsides) is a common name for an imaginary line defined by orbit's eccentricity vector. It is strictly defined for elliptic, parabolic and hyperbolic orbits. For those orbits it can be imagined as a line:
  • between orbit's periapsis and apoapsis - for circular orbits
  • between orbit's periapsis and focus - for parabolic and hyperbolic orbits

    Note: For circular orbits apse line is not defined as eccentricity is equal zero. As it is required as a base for definition of true anomaly it is usually arbitrarily assumed (usually as a line pointing into direction of vernal equinox)

    See also

  • Apsis
  • Orbit: circular, elliptic, parabolic and hyperbolic
  • Eccentricity (orbit) and eccentricity vector
  • True anomaly

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