2021-10-03, 12:03 AM
Hi razvan,
I'm not certain, but I think that when an object is discovered, osculating elements are all that can be determined. Then the orbit is refined with more observations & finally perturbations can be taken into account. The folks at JPL have the info needed to do the perturbation calculations. Those can only be done iteratively. There are also nongravitic (is that the term?) effects, like light pressure & jetting that can change the Keplarian orbital motion.
That warning is quite impressive. I wonder what the limitations & uncertainties are.
Phil S.
I'm not certain, but I think that when an object is discovered, osculating elements are all that can be determined. Then the orbit is refined with more observations & finally perturbations can be taken into account. The folks at JPL have the info needed to do the perturbation calculations. Those can only be done iteratively. There are also nongravitic (is that the term?) effects, like light pressure & jetting that can change the Keplarian orbital motion.
That warning is quite impressive. I wonder what the limitations & uncertainties are.
Phil S.