Laplace plane
E642788
The Laplace plane is the equilibrium reference plane about which a satellite’s orbital plane precesses under the combined influence of a planet’s oblateness and external gravitational perturbations.
Statements (48)
| Predicate | Object |
|---|---|
| instanceOf |
celestial mechanics concept
ⓘ
reference plane ⓘ |
| appliesTo |
artificial satellites
ⓘ
natural satellites ⓘ planetary ring particles ⓘ |
| characterizedBy |
constant mean inclination of a satellite’s orbit with respect to the plane
ⓘ
precession of orbital node about the plane ⓘ |
| consideredIn |
analysis of irregular satellite systems
ⓘ
design of high-altitude satellite orbits ⓘ dynamics of Uranian and Jovian ring systems ⓘ |
| coordinateSystem | often used as reference plane for Laplace-plane coordinates ⓘ |
| definedAs | equilibrium reference plane about which a satellite’s orbital plane precesses ⓘ |
| definedBy | balance between planetary oblateness and external gravitational perturbations ⓘ |
| dependsOn |
mass and distance of external perturbers
ⓘ
mass of the central planet ⓘ planet’s J2 gravitational harmonic ⓘ planet’s obliquity ⓘ planet’s orbital radius around the Sun ⓘ semi-major axis of the satellite ⓘ |
| hasCause |
external gravitational perturbations
ⓘ
planetary equatorial bulge ⓘ planetary oblateness ⓘ satellite-satellite gravitational perturbations ⓘ solar gravitational perturbations ⓘ |
| hasProperty |
interpolates between planet’s equatorial plane and orbital plane
ⓘ
is a secular equilibrium configuration ⓘ minimizes long-term inclination oscillations of orbits ⓘ orientation varies with orbital radius ⓘ |
| hasSpecialCase |
equatorial plane when oblateness dominates strongly
ⓘ
planet’s orbital plane when external perturbations dominate strongly ⓘ |
| mathematicallyDescribedBy | averaged disturbing function in celestial mechanics ⓘ |
| namedAfter | Pierre-Simon Laplace NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| relatedTo |
J2 perturbation
ⓘ
Laplace surface NERFINISHED ⓘ Laplace–Lagrange theory NERFINISHED ⓘ nodal precession ⓘ secular perturbation theory ⓘ |
| relativeTo |
planet’s equatorial plane
ⓘ
planet’s orbital plane around the Sun ⓘ |
| timeScale | secular (long-term) orbital evolution ⓘ |
| usedFor |
defining reference frames for satellite systems
ⓘ
interpreting observed inclinations of moons ⓘ modeling long-term orbital evolution ⓘ studying stability of planetary rings ⓘ |
| usedIn |
celestial mechanics
ⓘ
orbital dynamics ⓘ planetary ring dynamics ⓘ satellite theory ⓘ |
Referenced by (1)
Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.