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Concept
Orbital node
Summary
An orbital node is either of the two points where an orbit intersects a plane of reference to which it is inclined. A non-inclined orbit, which is contained in the reference plane, has no nodes.
Common planes of reference include the following:
For a geocentric orbit, Earth's equatorial plane. In this case, non-inclined orbits are called equatorial.
For a heliocentric orbit, the ecliptic or invariable plane. In this case, non-inclined orbits are called ecliptic.
For an orbit outside the Solar System, the plane through the primary perpendicular to a line through the observer and the primary (called the plane of the sky).
If a reference direction from one side of the plane of reference to the other is defined, the two nodes can be distinguished. For geocentric and heliocentric orbits, the ascending node (or north node) is where the orbiting object moves north through the plane of reference, and the descending node (or south node) is where it moves south through the plane. In the case of objects outside the Solar System, the ascending node is the node where the orbiting secondary passes away from the observer, and the descending node is the node where it moves towards the observer., p. 137.
The position of the node may be used as one of a set of parameters, called orbital elements, which describe the orbit. This is done by specifying the longitude of the ascending node (or, sometimes, the longitude of the node.)
The line of nodes is the intersection of the object's orbital plane with the plane of reference. It passes through the two nodes.
The symbol of the ascending node is (Unicode: U+260A, ☊), and the symbol of the descending node is (Unicode: U+260B, ☋). In medieval and early modern times the ascending and descending nodes were called the "dragon's head" (caput draconis, رأس الجوزهر) and "dragon's tail" (cauda draconis), respectively. These terms originally referred to the times when the Moon crossed the apparent path of the sun in the sky.
Official source
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