Re: Line-of-nodes Question

From: Jonathan T Wojack (tlj18@juno.com)
Date: Wed May 08 2002 - 16:51:36 EDT


Hello,

> No.
> the line-of-nodes is a line defined in inertial space, connecting 
> the
> points where the orbit crosses the earth's equatorial plane.

That is what I meant.
 
> This is not correct.
> The bulge of the earth causes the orbital plane of the satellite
> to rotate in inertial space, similar to the precession of a spinning 
> top.
>  This effect does *not* reffer to the longitude of the crossing of 
> earth's
> equator 

Won't this spinning of the orbital plane affect the longitude of the
line-of-nodes?

>and has nothing to do with the orbital period of the 
> satellite.

I know.  I know I didn't say it clearly enough, but I do realize that.

------------------------------
Jonathan T. Wojack                 tlj18@juno.com
39.706d N   75.683d W            4 hours behind UT (-4)


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