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Keplerian orbit elements

What you are seeing: the six classical orbital elements parameterize a Kepler orbit. Semi-major axis $a$ and eccentricity $e$ set the shape; inclination $i$, longitude of ascending node $\Omega$, and argument of periapsis $\omega$ orient the orbit in 3D.

Figure 1. Orbit drawn from elements; reference plane (ecliptic) shaded. Method: closed-form conic from the six elements with Kepler-equation time stepping.
a (AU)1.50
e0.30
i (deg)30
Ω (deg)60
ω (deg)45

WHAT TO TRY

  • Raise eccentricity $e$ toward 0.9 and watch the ellipse flatten and the body speed up near perihelion.
  • Set inclination $i$ to 90 degrees to view the orbit plane edge-on.
  • Sweep the node $\Omega$ and the argument of periapsis $\omega$ to see the orbit swing and spin in place.