Description

An orbit is the curved trajectory of an object around a celestial body.


Term

Features

Note

circular

eccentricity = 0

 

elliptical

eccentricity > 0 and < 1

 

parabolic

eccentricity = 1

velocity = escape velocity

hyperbolic

eccentricity > 1

velocity > escape velocity

radial

eccentricity = 1 with angular momentum = 0

the 2 objects move towards or away from each other in a straight line

decaying

distance between the 2 objects decreases over time

used to dispose of an artificial satellite

 


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