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DescriptionCounterintuitive orbital mechanics.svg
At the top of the diagram by CMG Lee, a satellite in a clockwise circular orbit (yellow spot) launches objects of negligible mass: (1 - blue) towards Earth, (2 - red) away from Earth, (3 - grey) in the direction of travel, and (4 - black) backwards of the direction of travel.
Dashed ellipses are orbits relative to Earth. Solid curves are pertubations relative to the satellite: in one orbit, (1) and (2) return to the satellite having made a clockwise loop on either side of the satellite. Unintuitively, (3) spirals farther and farther behind whereas (4) spirals ahead.
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Short title
counterintuitive orbital mechanics
Image title
At the top of the diagram by CMG Lee, a satellite in a clockwise circular orbit (yellow spot) launches objects of negligible mass: (1 - blue) towards Earth, (2 - red) away from Earth, (3 - grey) in the direction of travel, and (4 - black) backwards of the direction of travel. Dashed ellipses are orbits relative to Earth. Solid curves are pertubations relative to the satellite: in one orbit, (1) and (2) return to the satellite having made a clockwise loop on either side of the satellite. Unintuitively, (3) spirals farther and farther behind whereas (4) spirals ahead.