Ascending Node


In space and astronautical engineering, the ascending node is the point where an orbit crosses the plane of reference from south to north. It is one of the two nodes of an orbit, the other being the descending node. The ascending node is an important parameter in the description of the orbit of a spacecraft or a celestial body. It is used to define the orientation of the orbit in space, and it is usually measured in degrees from a reference direction, such as the vernal equinox or a fixed star. The ascending node is also used to define the longitude of the ascending node, which is the angle between the reference direction and the ascending node, measured in the plane of reference.


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