2021-11-16, 07:48 PM
(This post was last modified: 2021-11-16, 07:50 PM by bigmasterdrago.)
From Wiki: In celestial mechanics, the mean anomaly is the fraction of an elliptical orbit's period that has elapsed since the orbiting body passed periapsis, expressed as an angle which can be used in calculating the position of that body in the classical two-body problem.
Horizons expresses mean anomalies in the range 0 to 360 degrees, whereas specialty software can sometimes express mean anomalies in the range -180 to +180 degrees, so that (for example) 351.63 degrees in Horizons is equal to -8.37 degrees. If you see a negative mean anomaly, just add 360 degrees to compare it to the figure in Horizons.
I get a lot of my elements from https://minorplanetcenter.net/db_search.
I thought that was a big change also. As I said, it made a large position delta (~1.4') at closest approach (<0.5LD) at my house @ 7:48UT Nov. 12. A large enough change (1.3'w and 16"s) to confound a visual sighting when at the limit of conditions and aperture.
I've retained both sets of elements should you like to see them.
Horizons expresses mean anomalies in the range 0 to 360 degrees, whereas specialty software can sometimes express mean anomalies in the range -180 to +180 degrees, so that (for example) 351.63 degrees in Horizons is equal to -8.37 degrees. If you see a negative mean anomaly, just add 360 degrees to compare it to the figure in Horizons.
I get a lot of my elements from https://minorplanetcenter.net/db_search.
I thought that was a big change also. As I said, it made a large position delta (~1.4') at closest approach (<0.5LD) at my house @ 7:48UT Nov. 12. A large enough change (1.3'w and 16"s) to confound a visual sighting when at the limit of conditions and aperture.
I've retained both sets of elements should you like to see them.