Observation arc
Time between earliest and latest observations of a Solar System body like an asteroid or comet / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dear Wikiwand AI, let's keep it short by simply answering these key questions:
Can you list the top facts and stats about Observation arc?
Summarize this article for a 10 year old
SHOW ALL QUESTIONS
In observational astronomy, the observation arc (or arc length) of a Solar System body is the time period between its earliest and latest observations, used for tracing the body's path. It is usually given in days or years. The term is mostly used in the discovery and tracking of asteroids and comets. Arc length has the greatest influence on the accuracy of an orbit. The number, spacing of intermediate observations, and timestamps have a lesser effect.
This article needs additional citations for verification. (June 2019) |