出典:Wikipedia
出典:『Wikipedia』 (2011/07/30 01:16 UTC 版)
Orbit determination is a branch of astronomy specialised in calculating, and hence predicting, the orbits of objects such as moons, planets, and spacecraft . These orbits could be orbiting the Earth, or other bodies. The determination of the orbit of newly observed asteroids is a common usage of these techniques, both so the asteroid can be followed up with future observations, and also to check that it has not been previously discovered. Among other uses, it is critical for making use of GPS signals to determine position.