Re: [Visualpython-users] modeling asteroid orbits

[Jaap S. <j....@hc...>]

Martin Mason wrote:

> 
> Has anyone done any work on computing asteroid orbits from observational
> data either using either Laplace or Guassian techniques in vpython?   This
> is strictly for an educational setting.  We currently use either Excel or
> IDL, but both have their disadvantages.  (No visualization or steep learning
> curve.)  
> 

In Danby: Fundamentals of Celestial Mechanics, chapter 7 you can find
a simple Basic program that easily can be translated in (V)Python.

Maybe it is more easy to use FIND_ORB: http://www.projectpluto.com/find_orb.htm
FIND_ORB is an implementation of Herget's method.

Eventually you use the C/C++ code as an extension to Python.

Jaap Spies