Practical Astronomy
pa_comet_data Namespace Reference

Functions

def get_comet_data_elliptical (comet_name)
 
def get_comet_data_parabolic (comet_name)
 

Variables

dictionary CometDataElliptical
 
dictionary CometDataParabolic
 

Function Documentation

◆ get_comet_data_elliptical()

def pa_comet_data.get_comet_data_elliptical (   comet_name)
Get data for elliptical comet.

Example, retrieving orbital period of Halley:
    get_comet_data_elliptical("Halley")['Period']

Arguments:
    comet_name -- Name of comet, e.g., "Halley"

Returns:
    A dictionary object with the following elements:

    Epoch -- Epoch of the perihelion.
    Peri -- Longitude of the perihelion.
    Node -- Longitude of the ascending node.
    Period -- Period of the orbit.
    Axis -- Semi-major axis of the orbit.
    Ecc -- Eccentricity of the orbit.
    Incl -- Orbital inclination.

◆ get_comet_data_parabolic()

def pa_comet_data.get_comet_data_parabolic (   comet_name)
Get data for parabolic comet.

Example, retrieving longitude of the ascending node of Kohler:
    get_comet_data_parabolic("Kohler")['Node']

Arguments:
    comet_name -- Name of comet, e.g., "Kohler"

Returns:
    A dictionary object with the following elements:

    EpochPeriDay -- Epoch of the perihelion (day)
    EpochPeriMonth -- Epoch of the perihelion (month)
    EpochPeriYear -- Epoch of the perihelion (year)
    ArgPeri -- Longitude of the perihelion (degrees)
    Node -- Longitude of the ascending node (degrees)
    PeriDist -- Distance at perihelion (AU) 
    Incl -- Orbital inclination (degrees)

Variable Documentation

◆ CometDataElliptical

dictionary CometDataElliptical

◆ CometDataParabolic

dictionary CometDataParabolic
Initial value:
1 = {
2  "Kohler": {
3  "EpochPeriDay": 10.5659,
4  "EpochPeriMonth": 11,
5  "EpochPeriYear": 1977,
6  "ArgPeri": 163.4799,
7  "Node": 181.8175,
8  "PeriDist": 0.990662,
9  "Incl": 48.7196
10  }
11 }