- Two different element-format options are available:
Option JFORM=2, suitable for minor planets:
EPOCH = epoch of elements (TT MJD)
ORBI = inclination i (radians)
ANODE = longitude of the ascending node, big omega (radians)
PERIH = argument of perihelion, little omega (radians)
AORQ = mean distance, a (AU)
E = eccentricity, e
AM = mean anomaly M (radians)
Option JFORM=3, suitable for comets:
EPOCH = epoch of perihelion (TT MJD)
ORBI = inclination i (radians)
ANODE = longitude of the ascending node, big omega (radians)
PERIH = argument of perihelion, little omega (radians)
AORQ = perihelion distance, q (AU)
E = eccentricity, e
- DATE0, DATE1, EPOCH0 and EPOCH1 are all instants of time in
the TT timescale (formerly Ephemeris Time, ET), expressed
as Modified Julian Dates (JD-2400000.5).
DATE0 is the instant at which the given (i.e. unperturbed)
osculating elements are correct.
DATE1 is the specified instant at which the updated osculating
elements are correct.
EPOCH0 and EPOCH1 will be the same as DATE0 and DATE1
(respectively) for the JFORM=2 case, normally used for minor
planets. For the JFORM=3 case, the two epochs will refer to
perihelion passage and so will not, in general, be the same as
DATE0 and/or DATE1 though they may be similar to one another.
- The elements are with respect to the J2000 ecliptic and equinox.
- Unused elements (AM0 and AM1 for JFORM=3) are not accessed.
- See the palPertue routine for details of the algorithm used.
- This routine is not intended to be used for major planets, which
is why JFORM=1 is not available and why there is no opportunity
to specify either the longitude of perihelion or the daily
motion. However, if JFORM=2 elements are somehow obtained for a
major planet and supplied to the routine, sensible results will,
in fact, be produced. This happens because the sla_PERTUE routine
that is called to perform the calculations checks the separation
between the body and each of the planets and interprets a
suspiciously small value (0.001 AU) as an attempt to apply it to
the planet concerned. If this condition is detected, the
contribution from that planet is ignored, and the status is set to
the planet number (1-10 = Mercury, Venus, EMB, Mars, Jupiter,
Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Earth, Moon) as a warning.