Orbital Mechanics III

SNS 304
L-4
Sidereal Time

Osama M. Shalabiea
 NEXT
LECTURE 4
 Topocentric coordinate system

• A topocentric coordinate system is one that is centered at the

observer’s location on the surface of the earth. Consider an object
B, a satellite or celestial body, and an observer O on the earth’s
surface, as illustrated in the next Fig. (Fig. 5.8). r is the position of
the body B relative to the center of attraction C; R is the position
vector of the observer relative to C; and ρ is the position vector of
the body B relative to the observer.
An orbit around the earth is determined once the state
vectors r and v in the inertial geocentric equatorial frame
are provided at a given instant of time (epoch). Satellites
are of course observed from the earth’s surface and not
from its center.
HOW?? the state vector r is determined from
measurements by an earth-based tracking station.
 NEXT
LECTURE 5