eccentric anomaly

English

The eccentric anomaly of P(x,y) shown as the angle FCP'.

Noun

eccentric anomaly (countable and uncountable, plural eccentric anomalies)

1. (astronomy, celestial mechanics) The angle PCR formed by P = the periapsis of a celestial body's elliptical orbit, C = the center of that elliptical orbit, and R = the corresponding point to that celestial body (the projection of the celestial body along a direction parallel to the minor axis of its orbit onto the auxiliary circle (a circle which shares a diameter with the major axis of the celestial body's orbit)).

Related terms

• mean anomaly
• true anomaly

Translations

angle

• Finnish: eksentrinen anomalia