practical_astronomy.pa_comet_data Namespace Reference

Functions
	get_comet_data_elliptical (comet_name)
	get_comet_data_parabolic (comet_name)

Variables
dict	CometDataElliptical
dict	CometDataParabolic

Function Documentation

get_comet_data_elliptical()

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()

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

dict CometDataElliptical

CometDataParabolic

dict CometDataParabolic

Initial value:

=  {
    "Kohler": {
        "EpochPeriDay": 10.5659,
        "EpochPeriMonth": 11,
        "EpochPeriYear": 1977,
        "ArgPeri": 163.4799,
        "Node": 181.8175,
        "PeriDist": 0.990662,
        "Incl": 48.7196
    }
}