A node of the moon’s orbit.
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ARGUMENT OF LATITUDE
The angular distance measured in the orbital plane from the ascending node to the orbiting body; the sum of the argument of pericenter and the true anomaly
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LONGITUDE OF THE ASCENDING NODE
1. The angular distance in the ecliptic from the vernal equinox to the ascending node of the orbit. 2. The angular distance, always measured eastward, in the plane of the celestial equator from Greenwich through 360°.
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ASCENDING NODE
That point at which a planet, planetoid, or comet crosses the ecliptic from south to north, or a satellite crosses the plane of the equator of its primary from south to north. Also called NORTHBOUND NODE. The opposite is called DESCENDING NODE
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ARGUMENT OF PERICENTER
The angle at the center of attraction from the ascending node to the pericenter point, measured in the direction of motion of the orbiting body. Also called ARGUMENT OF PERI- FOCUS.
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LONGITUDE OF PERICENTER
An orbital element that specifies the orientation of an orbit; it is a broken angle consisting of the angular distance in the ecliptic from the vernal equinox to the ascending node of the orbit plus the angular distance in the orbital plane from the ascend- ing node to the pericenter, i.e. the sum of the longitude of the ascending node and the argument of pericenter.
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NODICAL
Of or pertaining to astronomical nodes; measured from node to node.
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NODAL
Related to or located at or near a node or nodes.
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NODE
1. One of the two points of intersection of the orbit of a planet, planetoid, or comet with the ecliptic, or of the orbit of a satellite with the plane of the orbit of its primary. That point at which the body crosses to the north side of the reference plane is called the ascending node; the other, the descending node. The line connecting the nodes is called LINE OF NODES. Also called NODAL POINT. 2. A zero point in any stationary wave system.
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NODE FACTOR
A factor depending upon the longitude of the moon’s node which, when applied to the mean coefficient of a tidal constituent, will adapt the same to a particular year for which predictions are to be made.
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ORBITAL ELEMENTS
Parameters that specify the position and motion of a body in orbit. The elliptical orbit of a satellite attracted by an exactly central gravitational force is specified by a set of six parameters as follows: Two parameters, the semimajor axis and eccentricity of the ellipse, establish the size and shape of the elliptical orbit. A third parameter, time of perifocal passage, enables determination of the location of the satellite in its orbit at any instant. The three remaining parameters establish the orientation of the orbit in space. These are the inclination of the orbital plane to a reference plane, the right ascension of the ascending node of the satellite, and the argument of pericenter.
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