Template:Orbit/doc

{{Documentation subpage}}

This template allows AstRoBot to update orbital elements automatically, using data from the Heavens-Above and [http://n2yo.com n2yo] websites. (Note that due to recent changes to the Heavens Above website, future support for this source may be discontinued).

Do not use this template on articles for spacecraft which are not currently in Earth orbit. Please read the instructions fully before setting up automatic updates. Consider discussing updates on the article's talk page or at the WikiProject talk page beforehand to ensure AstRoBot is suitable for that article.

Usage

Before using this template, it is recommended that you begin a discussion on the article's talk page and determine whether there is a consensus for that article to contain automatically updated orbital elements.

  • {{Orbit||}} to display a parameter in the article
  • {{Orbit|||hide}} for a control parameter which is not displayed

Two control parameters; epoch and satcat are required for the bot to retrieve data. It is strongly recommended that they be displayed in the article, however the hide parameter is available if it is needed.

The template can be nested inside others, such as {{tl|convert}} for the apogee, perigee, altitude at epoch and semi-major axis:

  • {{Convert|{{Orbit||}}|km|mi}}

Use of this template for spacecraft outside Earth orbit is not recommended.

Setting up

{{Main|User:AstRoBot/How to set up automatic updates}}

{{User:AstRoBot/How to set up automatic updates}}

Supported parameters

class="wikitable"

! Data

! Parameter name

! Infobox field

! Units

! Remarks

Argument of perigee

|arg of perigee

|orbit_arg_periapsis

|degrees

|

Apogee

| apogee

| orbit_apoapsis

| kilometres

|

Altitude at epoch

| altitude at epoch

| (none)

| kilometres

|

Eccentricity

| eccentricity

| orbit_eccentricity

| dimensionless

|

Epoch date

| epoch

| orbit_epoch

| n/a (date)

| required

Epoch time

| epoch time

| included in orbit_epoch

| n/a (time)

| Include, along with epoch, for greater precision

Inclination

| inclination

| orbit_inclination

| degrees

|

Mean anomaly

| mean anomaly

| orbit_mean_anomaly

| degrees

|

True anomaly

| true anomaly

| (none)

| degrees

|

Eccentric anomaly

| eccentric anomaly

| (none)

| degrees

|

Number of orbits completed

| orbits

| orbits_completed
orbit_rev_number

| dimensionless

| Updates two infobox fields - orbits_completed is intended as a total over the spacecraft's lifetime, while rev_number is specific to the displayed elset. From the bot's perspective, using the most up-to-date information, they are identical

Perigee

| perigee

| periapsis

| kilometres

|

Right ascension of the ascending node

| RAAN

| orbit_RAAN

| degrees

|

Speed at epoch

| speed at epoch

| n/a

| kilometres per second

| Not suitable for eccentric orbits

Average Speed

| average speed

| orbit_velocity

| kilometres per second

|

Mean motion

| mean motion

| orbit_mean_motion

| dimensionless

| Given in orbits per day

Orbital period

| period

| orbit_period

| minutes

|

Semi-major axis

| semimajor axis

| orbit_semimajor

| kilometres

|

Citation

| ref

| (none)

| n/a (string)

| Provides a reference to the page the orbital elements were obtained from. Must only include a reference, wrapped in tags

Satellite Catalog Number

| satcat

| SATCAT

| n/a (string)

| Required, not updated (constant) - used to identify satellite

Data source

| datasource

| n/a

| n/a

| HN, NH, H or N
Specifies whether the bot uses Heavens-Above (H) or [http://n2yo.com/ n2yo] (N) for orbit data, and if both are selected the order of preference. Defaults to NH (n2yo then heavens-above)

See also