| Abstract from DBPedia | The longitude of the ascending node (☊ or Ω) is one of the orbital elements used to specify the orbit of an object in space. It is the angle from a specified reference direction, called the origin of longitude, to the direction of the ascending node, as measured in a specified reference plane. The ascending node is the point where the orbit of the object passes through the plane of reference, as seen in the adjacent image. Commonly used reference planes and origins of longitude include:
* For geocentric orbits, Earth's equatorial plane as the reference plane, and the First Point of Aries as the origin of longitude. In this case, the longitude is also called the right ascension of the ascending node (RAAN). The angle is measured eastwards (or, as seen from the north, counterclockwise) from the First Point of Aries to the node. An alternative is the local time of the ascending node (LTAN), based on the local mean time at which the spacecraft crosses the equator. Similar definitions exist for satellites around other planets (see planetary coordinate systems).
* For heliocentric orbits, the ecliptic as the reference plane, and the First Point of Aries as the origin of longitude. The angle is measured counterclockwise (as seen from north of the ecliptic) from the First Point of Aries to the node.
* For orbits outside the Solar System, the plane tangent to the celestial sphere at the point of interest (called the ) as the reference plane, and north (i.e. the perpendicular projection of the direction from the observer to the North Celestial Pole onto the plane of the sky) as the origin of longitude. The angle is measured eastwards (or, as seen by the observer, counterclockwise) from north to the node., pp. 40, 72, 137; , chap. 17. In the case of a binary star known only from visual observations, it is not possible to tell which node is ascending and which is descending. In this case the orbital parameter which is recorded is simply labeled longitude of the node, Ω, and represents the longitude of whichever node has a longitude between 0 and 180 degrees., chap. 17;, p. 72.昇交点黄経（しょうこうてんこうけい、英語: longitude of the ascending node）は、軌道要素の1つで、軌道の春分点から反時計回りの昇交点までの角度のことを指す。天体の座標を表すときに使われる。記号Ωを使って表す。 太陽系の惑星の昇交点黄経は以下のとおりである。 (Source: http://dbpedia.org/resource/Longitude_of_the_ascending_node) |
