Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

--- blog:articles:software:orbital_calculator [2019/09/08 01:44] – [Feature List] Phil Ide
+++ blog:articles:software:orbital_calculator [2020/04/16 12:24] – [Feature List] Phil Ide
@@ Line 14: / Line 14: @@
 {{:blog:articles:software:twobody.png?direct&400 |Two-body calculation}}Users of the first versions of this program will be aware that the basic computation the program makes is for a satellite with an insignificant mass (vs the host gravitational mass). Simply select a mass and enter an orbital distance by typing in apogee and perigee (or just one for a circular orbit), then hit the calculate button. This is great for satellites and other types of spacecraft.
-You can now also perform two-body calculations by selecting two gravitational masses and the distance between them. By taking into consideration the masses of both bodies, the results have increased precision. In addition, the algorithm uses two separate equations to calculate the orbit and selects whichever it deems to be the most appropriate.
+You can now also perform two-body calculations by selecting two gravitational masses and the distance between them. This will try and take into consideration a whole star-system full of planets by using the Solar system as a blueprint. It then compares this to the Newtonian/Kepplerian equation results and determines which is likely to be most accurate. This increases the precision in most cases.
 ===== Additional Enhancements =====
@@ Line 37: / Line 37: @@
 [{{ :blog:articles:software:gmaint.png?direct&200|Enhanced, easier to use database maintenance}}] The database maintenance screens have been enhanced for much easier use. You no longer have to select which objects to display before entering the maintenance screen. Simply enter the screen and use the real-time filters to select which objects to display. Hovering over data in the 'Mass' and 'Surface Gravity' columns will reveal values in greater precision.
-Wherever a value is less than (but not equal to) 0.00, youll see a ~ beside it to indicate this. Hovering over the value will, as stated above, reveal greater precision. For example, you can see the surface gravity of Betelgeuse is ~0.00. Hovering over it will display 0.0003.
+Wherever a value is more than 0.00 but less than 0.01, you'll see a ~ beside it to indicate this. Hovering over the value will, as stated above, reveal greater precision. For example, you can see the surface gravity of Betelgeuse is ~0.00. Hovering over it will display 0.0003.
 ===== New Features =====
@@ Line 51: / Line 51: @@
 ===== Feature List =====
+  * **Schwartzschild and Photon Sphere** radii calculated as a factor of mass
+  * **Synodic Periods** calculated from orbital distances (and central mass)
+  * **Synodic Periods** calculated from orbital periods
   * **New Objects** added to database - six stars and one more asteroid
   * **Automatic Calculation** wherever it makes sense, so you don't have to hit a 'calculate' button
@@ Line 62: / Line 65: @@
   * **Lagrange Points** calculated as distance from the surfaces of the host and satellite mass
   * **Two-Body Orbits** taking into consideration the masses of both host and satellite
+  * **Hohmann Transfer Orbits** for low-energy migration
+  * **Distance Between Two Stars** using star-chart coordinates
+  * **Apparent Magnitude** of a star from another star
   * **Distance from Period** when all you know is the host mass and and the orbital period
   * **Satellite Footprint from Altitude**
@@ Line 70: / Line 76: @@
       * **Surface Area** of footprint in square kilometres
       * **Maximum Period of Visibility** of satellite from the ground
+  * **Visibility over Horizon** How far from an object (e.g. mountain) can you be and still see it?
   * **Age from Orbit** calculate someone's apparent age from local years
   * **Age and Weight on Solar System Planets**
@@ Line 75: / Line 82: @@
   * **Time Dilation from Velocity** where velocity is a factor of the speed of light
   * **Time Dilation from Orbit** factoring both gravitational time dilation and acceleration time dilation
-  * **Visibility Over Horizon** to determine the maximum distance an object can be seen
   * **Context-sensitive Help**
   * **Zoom-in, Zoom-out** if things are a little hard to read