Does anyone know of a formula for calculating the orbital period of a station around a planet? There is a particular station that I haul to, and I'd like to know when it's going to be behind the planet so supercruise assist will stop slamming me into the planet. I'd like to be able to figure out, for example, that from 02:10:00 to 02:30:00, the station is going to be behind the planet and I'm actually going to have to pay attention to my supercruise during that period of time.
Orbital Period Of A Station
- Thread starter QuakeGod
- Start date
No thanks. I'm Alt-Tabbed out 90% of the time while hauling. It's boring enough as it is without having to actually sit there and watch my ship's course the entire time.
The formula for calculating the velocity (v) needed for a circular orbit at radius (r) from a planet of mass (M) is v=√GM/r with (G) being the gravitational constant.
The distance the station travels for a single orbit is given with 2πr, so you can work out how long it will take to move that distance at velocity (v).
The local planet mass is given on the system map (as in: how many Earth masses) and you can get the orbital radius from targeting the planet when at the station.
Seems a bit of a faff and personally I’d just spend a short time flying away from the orbital plane before engaging the autopilot
Which incidentally will also get you to the station faster, see https://canonn.science/codex/optimal-supercruise-flight-paths/