Philip P. Ide

Author, programmer, science enthusiast, half-wit.
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blog:articles:software:orbital_calculator [2019/05/22 13:18] – [Feature List] Phil Ideblog:articles:software:orbital_calculator [2022/08/28 11:30] (current) Phil Ide
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 [{{ :blog:articles:software:orbitresult.png?direct&200|Orbital Calculator v2.0 displays results in many different equivalences}}] [{{ :blog:articles:software:orbitresult.png?direct&200|Orbital Calculator v2.0 displays results in many different equivalences}}]
-Orbital Calculator is the result of satisfying a need. There are online calculators for working out the orbital characteristics for satellites and spacecraft orbiting Earth, and they’re pretty cool gadgets as far as that goes, but quite limiting. +I needed to calculate orbital characteristics for any orbit around any gravitational mass (because I write sci-fi stories)so wrote this program because I'm a programmer and I'm too lazy to do it by hand all the time. The program has expanded over the last few years, sometimes from suggestions by other writers. I make it freely available and as simple to use as possible. It now has a list of functions as long as your arm (assuming you're not a tentacle user), and the number of downloads is now in <del>triple</del> quadruple digits (1,223 at the time of this edit).
- +
-As a sci-fi writer, I want more. What if wanted to calculate orbits around Mars, or Jupiter, or Io? What if wanted to do the same for one of the thousands of exoplanets we’ve discovered? What about purely imaginary planetsmoons and asteroids?+
  
 I wrote Orbital Calculator to handle just about any proposition. You can add new gravitational masses (the things you want to orbit) for easy and consistent recall. You can add satellites too, so you can recall their orbital data at any time. You can create temporary calculations (not stored for later recall), and you can edit orbital parameters without changing the stored data, so you can play “what if…”. I wrote Orbital Calculator to handle just about any proposition. You can add new gravitational masses (the things you want to orbit) for easy and consistent recall. You can add satellites too, so you can recall their orbital data at any time. You can create temporary calculations (not stored for later recall), and you can edit orbital parameters without changing the stored data, so you can play “what if…”.
  
 Even better yet, you can export any data for satellites or gravitational masses – choosing exactly which ones to export – and share the files with other users, who can import them into their own databases. Even better yet, you can export any data for satellites or gravitational masses – choosing exactly which ones to export – and share the files with other users, who can import them into their own databases.
 +
 +It runs on **Windows** & **Linux** (32-bit and 64-bit versions available for both platforms), and there is an armv7l version too (can you say Raspberry Pi?).
  
 //Note: you can click on any of the images to display them full size// //Note: you can click on any of the images to display them full size//
 +
 +===== Release Notes & Download =====
 +For the latest release notes, go to the [[:blog:articles:software:obitcalc_release_notes|Release Notes]] page.
 +
 +If you want to jump straight to the download, there are links to it in the top-bar menu and at the bottom of this article, else you can jump to the [[:blog:aardvaark:downloads|Downloads page]] here.
 ===== Two Types of Orbital Calculation ===== ===== Two Types of Orbital Calculation =====
 {{: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. {{: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 precisionIn 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 blueprintIt 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 ===== ===== Additional Enhancements =====
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 ===== Feature List ===== ===== Feature List =====
 +  * **N-Body Centre of Gravity** calculate centre of gravity for any number of gravitational masses
 +  * **Constant Acceleration** - all 5 components of teh constant acceleration equations can be deduced and converted
 +  * **Free-Fall** distance and final velocity for increasing rate of acceleration over any gravitational mass for any duration
 +  * **Distance/Speed/Time** calculations and conversions
 +  * **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   * **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   * **Automatic Calculation** wherever it makes sense, so you don't have to hit a 'calculate' button
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   * **Lagrange Points** calculated as distance from the surfaces of the host and satellite mass   * **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   * **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   * **Distance from Period** when all you know is the host mass and and the orbital period
   * **Satellite Footprint from Altitude**   * **Satellite Footprint from Altitude**
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       * **Surface Area** of footprint in square kilometres       * **Surface Area** of footprint in square kilometres
       * **Maximum Period of Visibility** of satellite from the ground       * **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 from Orbit** calculate someone's apparent age from local years
   * **Age and Weight on Solar System Planets**   * **Age and Weight on Solar System Planets**
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   * **Portable** means it doesn't have to be installed - just unzip and run. Can be run from a USB stick.   * **Portable** means it doesn't have to be installed - just unzip and run. Can be run from a USB stick.
  
-//**N.B. Initially, just the Windows (32-bit and 64-bit) versions will be available until have found someone to test the software on the other platforms.**//+====== Download ====== 
 +You can download the latest versions from the [[blog:aardvaark:downloads|Downloads]] page (there's also a link to the page in the top-bar menu). 
 + 
 +//**N.B. Windows and Linux versions are now available in both 32-bit and 64-bit flavours. I'll add a Mac version as soon as can find someone to test it for me (feel free to volunteer!).**//
  
 ---- ----
 ~~socialite~~ ~~socialite~~
 ~~DISCUSSION~~ ~~DISCUSSION~~
blog/articles/software/orbital_calculator.1558531138.txt.gz · Last modified: 2019/05/22 13:18 by Phil Ide

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