Orbital elements are parameters necessary to specify the orbit of a celestial body or satellite. They are typically used to describe the shape and orientation of the orbit and the position of the object in its orbit at a specific time. These parameters are crucial for understanding the trajectories of planets, moons, asteroids, and artificial satellites.
These elements are often determined through observations and are used to predict future positions of the orbiting bodies. For spacecraft and satellites, understanding and calculating orbital elements is essential for mission planning and operations. Below are some short videos that discuss certain properties of orbits and the orbital elements.
Lincoln Astrophysics Team 