Mathmatics: Orbital mathmatics help please

[Wild Cobra]

Been so long, and I can't find the equation.

I'm looking for a formula that I can plot distance vs. time between two bodies in an elliptical orbit. Take this graphic for example:



Notice the two bodies slow down as they are farther away and speed up as they are closer to the center. If I recall correctly, I can divide them into equal area pie slices for time, but it's been more than 30 years since I used this type of knowledge.

Anyone know orbital mechanics?

[travis2]

Look up Kepler's Laws in wiki. I think you are looking for Kepler's 1st law. It isn't given explicitly as a function of time, but in (r, theta). However, if r and theta are functions of time, that should do you fine.

I don't think you want Kepler's 2nd law...that's a 2nd order differential equation.

[Wild Cobra]

Look up Kepler's Laws in wiki. I think you are looking for Kepler's 1st law. It isn't given explicitly as a function of time, but in (r, theta). However, if r and theta are functions of time, that should do you fine.

I don't think you want Kepler's 2nd law...that's a 2nd order differential equation.

Thank you.

That's exactly what I wanted.

[Dex]

4 and a half.

[thispego]

what the is mathmatics

[ashbeeigh]

and I'm having a hard time accounting for 22 missing cases in my excel file. Geez.

[travis2]

Thank you.

That's exactly what I wanted.

No problem.

[CubanSucks]

I'm taking college algebra ...for the second time