Are there any typical rules of thumb as to when a moon or other body is in an orbital plane relative to the planet's equatorial plane or to the ecliptic?
I thought moon orbits were designated as being relative to the equator of the planet that they orbit. However, it looks like Luna's orbital inclination is in the SCC file as being relative to the ecliptic. What about other objects such as Mir?
What about the extra solar planet's? Are they generally inclined relative to the ecliptic, the celestial sphere, or to the equator of the star, which is then relative to what?
Thanks,
RFI: Orbital Plane References
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chris
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RFI: Orbital Plane References
dtessman wrote:What about the extra solar planet's? Are they generally inclined relative to the ecliptic, the celestial sphere, or to the equator of the star, which is then relative to what?
The inclinations of most extra solar planets aren't known . . . The sole exception is the planet orbiting HD 209458, which has been observed transiting its parent star. Also, all solar systems in Celestia have the same ecliptic . . . I haven't gotten around to adding an 'orientation of ecliptic plane' parameter for solar systems. It's not difficult at all to implement, however.
--Chris