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Gaëtan Kerschen Space Structures & Systems Lab (S3L) 4. The Orbit in Time Astrodynamics (AERO0024)

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Page 1: 4. The Orbit in Time - s3l.be · 33 Can We Use the Real Sun ? Apparent solar time, as read directly by a sundial, is the local time defined by the actual diurnal motion of the Sun

Gaëtan Kerschen

Space Structures &

Systems Lab (S3L)

4. The Orbit in Time

Astrodynamics (AERO0024)

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2

Previous Lecture: The Orbit in Space

3.1 INERTIAL FRAMES

3.4.1 ICRS

3.4.2 ICRF

3.2 COORDINATE SYSTEMS

3.3 COORDINATE TYPES

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3

Importance of Time

Fundamental to astrodynamics is keeping track of when events occur. A robust time system is therefore crucial.

For example: when will I see Halley’s comet in the sky ?

when will New Horizons arrive at Pluto ?

Applications such as GPS rely on an extremely precise time measurement system.

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Newton’s laws

1 2

g r

m

m mG

r

F a

F u3r

r r

Relative motion Energy conserv.

2 1

1 cos

hr

e

2

2

v

r

Kepler’s 1st law

Angular mom.

h r r

Azim. velocity

/v h r

Kepler’s 2nd law

/ / 2dA dt h

The orbit

equation

Kepler’s 3rd law

1.5 0.52 /T a

We have lost track of

the time variable !

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5

Complexity of Time Systems

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6

Complexity of Time Systems: STK

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7

3. The Orbit in Space and Time

3.4 Orbital position as a function of time

3.5 Time systems

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8

3. The Orbit in Space and Time

3.4 Orbital position as a function of time

3.4.1 Kepler’s equation

3.4.2 Orbit propagation

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9

Time Since Periapsis

2 1

1 cos

hr

e

21constant

2 2

dA d hr

dt dt

Orbit equation

Kepler’s second

law

2

231 cos

ddt

h e

2

23 0 1 cosp

dt t

h e

Sixth missing

constant (tp=0)

What is the time required to fly

between any two true anomaly ?

Hint: Kepler’s law

3.4.1 Kepler’s equation

2

23 0 1 cos

dt

h e

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10

Circular Orbits

2

23 0 1 cos

dt

h e

2

3 0t d

h

3 3/ 2

2 2

h r Tt

Obvious, because the angular velocity is constant.

2t

T

3.4.1 Kepler’s equation

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11

Elliptic Orbits

2

23 0

20 11

3/ 22

1 cos

1 1 1 sin 2 tan tan

1 2 1 cos1

e

dt

h e

e e e

e ee

Because the angular velocity of a spacecraft along an

eccentric orbit is continuously varying (see constant areal

velocity), the expression of the angular position versus

time is no longer trivial.

Mean anomaly, M

2

3/ 22

3

21M e t t nt

h T

2(1 )h a e

3

2ellip

aT

3.4.1 Kepler’s equation

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12

Mean Anomaly Is Related to Time

For circular orbits, the mean M and true anomalies θ are

identical.

For elliptic orbits, the mean anomaly represents the

angular displacement of a fictitious body moving around

the ellipse at the constant angular speed n.

3.4.1 Kepler’s equation

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13

Eccentric Anomaly Is Related to Position

θ

ae

E

r

a

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14

Eccentric Anomaly: Relation with Mean Anomaly ?

cos cosa E ae r coscos

1 cos

eE

e

21

1 cos

er a

e

L2

Graph 21 sinsin

1 cos

eE

e

2 2cos sin 1E E

2 21 cos 1tan tan

2 1 cos 1 2

E E e

E e

1 12 tan tan

1 2

eE

e

coscos

1 cos

eE

e

21 sinsin

1 cos

eE

e

3.4.1 Kepler’s equation

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15

Kepler’s Equation

21 1 1 sin

2 tan tan1 2 1 cos

e e eM

e e

sinM nt E e E

It relates time, in terms of M=nt, to

position, in terms of E, r=a(1-e.cosE).

3.4.1 Kepler’s equation

1 12 tan tan

1 2

eE

e

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16

Usefulness of Kepler’s Equation

θ and orbit are given

1 12 tan tan

1 2

eE

e

sinM E e E

2

Mt T

Practical application:

Determine the time at which a

satellite passes from sunlight

into the Earth’s shadow (the

location of this point is known

from the geometry).

3.4.1 Kepler’s equation

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17

Example

A geocentric elliptic orbit has a perigee radius of 9600 km

and an apogee radius of 21000 km. Calculate the time to

fly from perigee to a true anomaly of 120.

21000 96000.37255

21000 9600

a p

a p

r re

r r

L2

1 12 tan tan 1.7281rad

1 2

eE

e

sin 1.3601radM E e E

33

2 2 / 18834s2

p ar raT

1.360118834 4077s=1h07m57s

2 2

Mt T

3.4.1 Kepler’s equation

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18

Usefulness of Kepler’s Equation

t is given

2 tM

T

sinM E e E

Transcendental equation !!!

(with a unique solution)

Practical application:

Perform a rendez-vous with the

ISS (ATV, STS, Soyuz, Progress).

3.4.1 Kepler’s equation

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19

Numerical Solution: Newton-Raphson

Algorithm for finding approximations to the zeros of a

nonlinear function.

Recursive application of Taylor series truncated after

the first derivative.

The initial guess should be close enough to the actual

solution.

3.4.1 Kepler’s equation

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20

Numerical Solution: Newton-Raphson

Example: find the zero of f(x)=0.5(x-1)2

-3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3-8

-6

-4

-2

0

2

4

6

8

x

f(x)

3.4.1 Kepler’s equation

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21

Analytic Solution: Lagrange

1

n

n

n

E M a e

( / 2)

1

10

1 11 2 sin 2

2 ! !

floor nk n

n nk

a n k n k Mn k k

Convergence if e<0.663.

For small values of the eccentricity a good agreement with

the exact solution is obtained using a few terms (e.g., 3).

3.4.1 Kepler’s equation

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22

Analytic Solution: Bessel Functions

1

2sinn

n

E M J ne nMn

2

0

1( )

! ! 2

k n k

n

k

xJ x

n k k

Convergence for all values of the eccentricity less than 1.

3.4.1 Kepler’s equation

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23

Parabolic and Hyperbolic Orbits

23

3

1 1tan tan

2 2 6 2M t

h

23

23 0

1 1tan tan

2 2 6 21 cos

dt

h

3.4.1 Kepler’s equation

1 1 tan( / 2)ln

1 1 tan( / 2)

e eF

e e

sinhM e F F

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24

Prediction of the Position and Velocity

If the position and velocity r0 and v0 of an orbiting body are

known at a given instant t0, how can we compute the

position and velocity r and v at any later time t ?

Concept of f and g function and series:

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0( ) ( , , , ) ( , , , )t f t t g t t r r v r r v v

0

0

1 1 cos( )a

f E Er

3

0 0 0sin( )a

g t t E E E E

Prussing and Conway

J.E. Prussing, B.A. Conway, Orbital

Mechanics, Oxford University Press

3.4.2 Orbit propagation

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25

Prediction of the Position and Velocity

Some form of Kepler’s equation must still be solved by

iteration. However, Gauss developed a series expansion in

the elapsed time parameter t-t0, and there is no longer the

need to solve Kepler’s equation:

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0( ) ( , , , ) ( , , , )t f t t g t t r r v r r v v

2 30 0

0 03 5

0 0

.1 ...

2 2f t t t t

r r

r v

3 40 0

0 0 03 5

0 0

....

6 4g t t t t t t

r r

r v

3.4.2 Orbit propagation

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26

3. The Orbit in Space and Time

3.5 Time systems

3.5.1 Clocks

3.5.2 Universal time

3.5.3 Earth’s rotation

3.5.4 Atomic time

3.5.5 Coordinated universal time

3.5.6 Julian date

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27

“Everyday” Time Systems

Are conventional local time systems adequate for orbital

mechanics ?

They depend on the user’s position on Earth.

They are in a format (Y/M/D/H/M/S) that does not lend itself to

use in a computer-implemented algorithm. For instance, what

is the difference between any two dates ?

Objective of this section:

What would be a meaningful time system ?

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28

What are the Ingredients of a Time System ?

3.5.1 Clocks

1. The interval (a time reckoner): a repeatable

phenomenon whose motion or change of state is

observable and obeys a definite law.

2. The epoch (a time reference) from which to count

intervals

2. The epoch

1. The interval

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29

Historical Perspective

From remote antiquity, the celestial bodies have been the

fundamental reckoners of time (e.g. rising and setting of

the Sun).

Sundials were among the first

instruments used to measure the

time of the day. The Egyptians

divided the day and night into 12h

each, which varied with the

seasons (unequal seasonal hour)

3.5.1 Clocks

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30

Historical Perspective

It was not until the 14th century that an hour of uniform

length became customary due to the invention of

mechanical clocks.

Quartz-crystal clocks were developed in the 1920s.

The first atomic clock was constructed in 1948, and the

first caesium atomic clock in 1955.

3.5.1 Clocks

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31

Quantum Clocks Soon ?

3.5.1 Clocks

https://www.wired.com/2010/02/quantum-logic-atomic-clock/

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32

Tow Important Time Scales

1. Universal time: the time scale based on the rotation of

the Earth on its axis.

2. Atomic time: the time scale based on the quantum

mechanics of the atom.

3.5.1 Clocks

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33

Can We Use the Real Sun ?

Apparent solar time, as read directly by a sundial, is the

local time defined by the actual diurnal motion of the Sun.

Apparent solar day is the time required for the sun to lie on

the same meridian.

3.5.2 Universal time

Due to the eccentricity of Earth’s orbit,

the length of the apparent solar day

varies throughout the year.

The real sun is not well suited for

time reckoning purposes.

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34 3.5.2 Universal time

Apparent and Mean Solar Days

Approximation where E is in

minutes, sin and cos in degrees, and

N is the day number:

9.87sin 2 7.53cos 1.5sinE B B B

360 ( 81)

365

NB

Equation of time

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35

Can We Use a Fictitious Sun ?

At noon the fictitious sun lies on the Greenwich meridian.

A mean solar day comprises 24 hours. It is the time

interval between successive transits of a fictitious mean

sun over a given meridian. A constant velocity in the

motion about the sun is therefore assumed.

The mean solar second can be defined as 1/86400 of a

mean solar day.

3.5.2 Universal time

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36

Universal Time

Universal time is today’s realization of a mean solar time

(introduced in 1920s).

It is the same everywhere on Earth.

It is referred to the meridian of Greenwich and reckoned

from midnight.

3.5.2 Universal time

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37 3.5.2 Universal time

Universal Time UT1

UT1 is the observed rotation of the Earth with respect to

the mean sun.

It is based on the measurement of the Earth rotation angle

with respect to an inertial reference frame (sidereal day).

A conversion from mean sidereal day to mean solar day is

therefore necessary.

Earth rotation

angle

(sidereal day)

UT1

(mean solar day)

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38 3.5.2 Universal time

IAU2000 Definition of Universal Time UT1

ERA = 2π(0.7790572732640 + 1.00273781191135448 Tu) radians

Earth rotation

angle

(sidereal day)

UT1

(mean solar day)

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39 3.5.2 Universal time

IAU2000 Definition of Universal Time UT1

Tu is directly related to UT1:

Julian UT1 date - 2451545.0

ERA = 2π(0.7790572732640 + 1.00273781191135448 Tu) radians

Earth rotation angle w.r.t. ICRF.

Its time derivative is the Earth’s

angular velocity.

Earth rotation angle

at J2000.0 UT1 Explanation 1

Explanation 2

Explanation 3

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40 3.5.2 Universal time

Explanation 1: Mean Solar Sidereal Days

1 solar day= 1.00273781191135448

sidereal day

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41

Explanation 2: Julian Date

The Julian day number is the number of days since noon

January 1, 4713 BC Continuous time scale and no

negative dates.

For historical reasons, the Julian day begins at noon, and

not midnight, so that astronomers observing the heavens

at night do not have to deal with a change of date.

The number of days between two events is found by

subtracting the Julian day of one from that of the other.

3.5.6 Julian date

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42

Forward Computation

7 +9367. floor floor

4 12

275. 1 1floor 1721013.5

9 24 60 60

MMJD YYYY YYYY

M ssDD mm hh

Conversion from conventional time (YYYY, MM, DD,

hh:mm:ss.ss) to Julian Date:

Valid for the period 1st March 1900 and 28th February 2100

3.5.6 Julian date

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43

Backward Computation

3.5.6 Julian date

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44

Computation of Elapsed Time

Find the elapsed time between 4 October 1957 at

19:26:24 UTC and 12 May 2004 at 14:45:30 UTC

4 October 1957 at 19:26:24 UTC: 2436116.3100 days

12 May 2004 at 14:45:30 UTC: 2453138.11493056 days

The elapsed time is 17021.805 days

3.5.6 Julian date

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45

Standard Epoch Used Today: J2000

2000 2451545J JD

To lessen the magnitude of the Julian date, a constant

offset can be introduced. A different reference epoch 1st

January 2000 at noon is used:

3.5.6 Julian date

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46 3.5.2 Universal time

Explanation 3: Accurate Determination of ERA

The most remote objects in the universe are quasars in a

distance of about 3-15 billion light years. Because quasars

are at such great distances that their motions across the sky

are undetectable, they form a quasi-inertial reference frame,

called the international celestial reference frame.

Quasars can be detected with very sensitive

radiotelescopes.

By observing the diurnal motion of distant quasars (more

precise than sun-based observations), it is possible to relate

the position, orientation and rotation of the Earth to the

inertial reference frame realized by these quasars.

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47 3.5.2 Universal time

Very Long Baseline Interferometry

A radio telescope with a cryogenic

dual band S/X-band receiver

(TIGO, Concepcion, Chili)

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48 3.5.3 Earth’s rotation

Can We Trust the Earth’s Rotation ?

ERA = 2π(0.7790572732640 + 1.00273781191135448 Tu) radians

?

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49 3.5.3 Earth’s rotation

Can We Trust the Earth’s Rotation ?

No !

The Earth's rotation rate is not uniform. It exhibits

changes on the order of 2 milliseconds per day.

Corals dating from 370 millions years ago indicate

that the number of days was between 385 and 410.

There also exists random and seasonal variations.

In addition, the axis of rotation is not fixed in space.

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50

Rotation Rate: Steady Deceleration (Cause 1)

The Moon is at the origin of tides: the water of the

oceans bulges out along both ends of an axis

passing through the centers of the Earth and Moon.

The tidal bulge closely follows the Moon in its orbit,

and the Earth rotates under this bulge in a day. Due

to friction, the rotation drags the position of the tidal

bulge ahead of the position directly under the Moon.

A substantial amount of mass in the bulge is offset

from the line through the centers of the Earth and

Moon. Because of this offset, there exists a torque

which boosts the Moon in its orbit, and decelerates

the rotation of the Earth.

Energy transfer from the

Earth to the Moon

3.5.3 Earth’s rotation

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51

Rotation Rate: Steady Deceleration (Cause 2)

In addition to this tidal acceleration of the Moon, the

Earth is also slowing down due to tidal friction.

Tides stretch the oceans, and to a small extent, the solid

mass of a planet or satellite. In one complete rotation,

the planet material keeps deforming and relaxing. This

takes energy away from the rotation, transforming it into

heat.

3.5.3 Earth’s rotation

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52

The Moon Is Moving Away from the Earth

3.5.3 Earth’s rotation

The secular acceleration of the Moon is small but it has a

cumulative effect on the Moon's position when

extrapolated over many centuries.

Direct measurements of the acceleration have been

possible since 1969 using the Apollo retro-reflectors left on

the Moon.

The results from Lunar Laser Ranging show that the

Moon's mean distance from Earth is increasing by 3.8 cm

per year.

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53

Lunar Laser Ranging Experiment (Apollo 11)

3.5.3 Earth’s rotation

NASA Goddard

(Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter)

Lunar Laser Ranging Experiment from

the Apollo 11 mission

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56

What is Your Conclusion ?

We cannot “trust” the Earth’s rotation the length of one

second of UT1 is not constant !

Its offset from atomic time is continually changing in a not

completely predictable way.

3.5.3 Earth’s rotation

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57 3.5.4 Atomic time

International Atomic Time (TAI)

Since the advent of atomic time in 1955 there has been a

steady transition from reliance on the Earth's rotation to

the use of atomic time as the standard for the SI unit of

duration (second).

The second is the duration of 9.192.631.770 cycles of the

radiation corresponding to the transition between two

hyperfine levels of the ground state of 133Cs.

Weighted average of the time kept by about 300 atomic

clocks in over 50 national laboratories worldwide.

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58 3.5.4 Atomic time

Atomic Clocks: Stability and Accuracy

The hydrogen maser has the

best stability for periods of up to

a few hours.

The caesium clock has high accuracy

and good long-term stability.

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59 3.5.4 Atomic time

Is Atomic Time the Adequate Solution ?

No connection with the motion of

the sun across the sky !

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60 3.5.5 Coordinated universal time

Physical and Astronomical Times

Astronomical clocks:

Related to everyday life.

Not consistent; the length of one second of UT is not

constant. Typical accuracies ~10-8.

Atomic clocks:

Consistent. Typical accuracies ~10-14.

Not related to everyday life. If no adjustment is made, then

within a millennium, local noon (i.e., the local time associated

with the Sun’s zenith position) would occur at 13h00 and not

12h00.

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61 3.5.5 Coordinated universal time

Coordinated Universal Time (UTC)

Its time interval corresponds to atomic time TAI:

It is accurate.

Its epoch differs by no more than 0.9 sec from UT1:

The mean sun is overhead on the Greenwich meridian at noon.

The good practical compromise between atomic

and universal times: it is the international standard

on which civil time is based.

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62 3.5.5 Coordinated universal time

Leap Seconds

Leap seconds were introduced in 1971 to reconcile

astronomical time, which is based on the rotation of the

Earth, and physical time, which can be measured with great

accuracy using atomic clocks.

Leap seconds are introduced to account for the fact that the

Earth currently runs slow at 2 milliseconds per day and they

ensure that the Sun continues to be overhead on the

Greenwhich meridian at noon to within 1s.

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63 3.5.5 Coordinated universal time

Le Soir Article

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66 3.5.5 Coordinated universal time

DUT1 =UT1-UTC <0.9s

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67 3.5.5 Coordinated universal time

Leap Seconds: Pros and Cons

Leap seconds are a worry with safety-critical real-time

systems (e.g., air-traffic control GPS' internal

atomic clocks race ahead of UTC).

-

+

This is currently the subject of intense debate (UT vs. TAI;

i.e., UK vs. France).

Abandoning leap seconds would break sundials. In

thousands of years, 16h00 would occur at 03h00. The

British who have to wake up early in the morning to

have tea…

Astronomers

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68

Yet More Time Systems !

GPS time: running ahead of UTC but behind TAI (it was

set in 1980 based on UTC, but leap seconds were

ignored since then).

Time standards for planetary motion calculations:

Terrestrial dynamic time: tied to TAI but with an offset of

32.184s to provide continuity with ephemeris time.

Barycentric dynamic time: similar to TDT but includes

relativistic corrections that move the origin of the solar system

barycenter.

3.5.5 Coordinated universal time

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IAU2000: determined

from the Earth

Rotation Angle

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70

Further Reading on the Course Web Site

3.5.5 Coordinated universal time

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71

3. The Orbit in Space and Time

3.4 ORBITAL POSITION AS A FUNCTION OF TIME

3.4.1 Kepler’s equation

3.4.2 Orbit propagation

3.5 TIME SYSTEMS

3.5.1 Clocks

3.5.2 Universal time

3.5.3 Earth’s motion

3.5.4 Atomic time

3.5.5 Coordinated universal time

3.5.6 Julian date

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Gaëtan Kerschen

Space Structures &

Systems Lab (S3L)

4. The Orbit in Time

Astrodynamics (AERO0024)