orbital inclination
(inclination)
(angle between plane of an orbit and a reference plane)
An orbital inclination is the angle between the plane of an
orbit and a given reference plane. For example, the orbital inclination
of an Earth satellite is generally given using the plane of
the Earth's equator as a reference, but also could be given
in reference to the plane of the Moon's orbit (which would
likely be explicitly noted).
The inclination of a solar system planet's orbit is generally
given using the ecliptic (the plane of Earth's orbit) as a reference.
The term is used for binary stars and extra-solar planets, generally in
reference to the plane of the sky (the plane perpendicular to the line of sight).
Examples:
- The Moon's orbit can be described by an inclination in relation to the ecliptic: this inclination varies slightly, averaging around 5.14°.
- The Moon's orbit can also be described by an inclination in relation to the plane of Earth's equator: this has a greater variation due to an 18-year precession cycle in the Moon's orbit (ranging between 23.45° and 28.6°).
- The Earth's orbit can be also described by an inclination in relation to the plane of the Sun's equator (7.155°).
- A transiting planet (exoplanet) has an orbital inclination close to 90° (in relation to the plane of the sky).
(orbits,measure)
Further reading:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orbital_inclination
https://astronomy.swin.edu.au/cosmos/O/orbital+inclination
https://dictionary.obspm.fr/index.php?formSearchTextfield=orbital+inclination&showAll=1
https://www.asteroidmission.org/galleries/word-of-the-week/orbital-inclination/
Referenced by pages:
Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9
eclipsing binary (E)
exoplanet eclipse light curve
Haumea
irregular moon
Kozai mechanism (ZLK)
Kuiper Belt (K Belt)
long-period comet
mass function
mass ratio (μ)
minimum mass (m sin i)
moon
Morgan classification
Oort Cloud
orbit plot
orbital element
orbital resonance
Planet Nine
planetary migration
Pluto
Proxima b
retrograde orbit
Sedna
semi-major axis (a)
Solar Orbiter (SolO)
solar system
solar system object (SSO)
standard siren
trans-Neptune object (TNO)
Ulysses
Index