>From Michele: > Have you played with celestia? > > http://www.shatters.net/celestia/
No, I haven't. I'll take a closer look at "the tour" when I get some time. > Back to the topic. The original article from Nature: > http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v482/n7386/full/nature10836.html Thanks for the original Nature article as well. Following up on my previous commentary, yesterday for the first time I performed a computer simulation that showed me what appears to be an alternative way to graph (or simulate) a typical elliptical orbit. Traditional algorithms employ a basic feed-back loop based on 1/R**2 of the distance. However, the alternative feed-back loop algorithm I started experimenting with is based on combining both 1/r**2 AND 1/R**3. Obviously, this new algorithm might sound counter intuitive at first glance. I'll try to explain how I arrived at such an audacious algorithm when I get a little more time in a couple of days. What I can say is that the new system involves an alternative way of graphing out a periodic orbit - where you plot an "elliptical" orbit on a TIME-LINE chart. The orbital distance is the "Y" vertical value and the horizontal "X" value is the time value. Both the traditional AND the new alternative algorithms seem to work using this alternative X/Y chart. I overplayed both the traditional and alterative versions on top of each other and they fit like a glove. The implication is what appears to be an alternative (and possibly a more realistic or practical perspective) that suggests something akin to an interplay positive AND negative gravitational/centripetal forces that influence a typical elliptical orbit depending on where the satellite is located in its orbital period. Sorry, that last sentence was a mouthful, wasn't it. ;-) PS: I came up with the idea after reading up on one of Miles Mathis essays on the physics of orbital periods. http://www.amazon.com/unified-Field-other-problems/dp/1452005141 The book is self-published. I'm sure nobody wanted to be associated with what he wanted to talk about. http://milesmathis.com/ Some consider Mathis to be a "crank", but he DID give me some ideas! Regards, Steven Vincent Johnson www.OrionWorks.com www.zazzle.com/orionworks
