Velocity and acceleration of planets

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Hi everybody,

I didn't have anything better to do last night, so Icame up with some data of the planetary motions...

Apparent Velocities and Accelerations of Planets

Definitions:

Daily Velocity = the zodiacal position of a planet at any day subtract its zodiacal position of the previous day.

Daily Acceleration = the daily velocity of a planet at any day subtract its daily velocity of the previous day. Acceleration is simply another term for rate of velocity.

The daily velocities and accelerations are measured relative to earth (geocentric) i.e. their apparent motions.


The definitions used for the data collected below:

Min velocity = the minimum velocity of the planet between Jan 1 1900 to Dec 31 1999 (100 years duration).

Max velocity = the maximum velocity of the planet between Jan 1 1900 to Dec 31 1999 (100 years duration).

Average velocity = the average velocity of the planet between Jan 1 1900 to Dec 31 1999 (100 years duration).


Min acceleration = the minimum acceleration of the planet between Jan 1 1900 to Dec 31 1999 (100 years duration).

Max acceleration = the maximum acceleration of the planet between Jan 1 1900 to Dec 31 1999 (100 years duration).

Average acceleration = the average acceleration of the planet between Jan 1 1900 to Dec 31 1999 (100 years duration).

All velocities have units on degrees/day
All accelerations have units of degrees/day/day

Analyses were done for the luminaries and the five traditional planets only.

Period considered: 100 years [01 Jan 1900 to 31 Dec 1999]

Moon

Min Velocity 11d 45m 47 s
Max Velocity 15d 23m 02s
Average Velocity 13d 10m 36s

Min Acceleration -0.5084
Max Acceleration 0.5091
Average Acceleration -0.000055

Mercury

Min Velocity -01d 23m 03s
Max Velocity 02d 12m 08s
Average Velocity 00d 59m 09s

Min Acceleration -0.1981
Max Acceleration 0.1953
Average Acceleration 0.000007


Venus

Min Velocity -00d 37m 57s
Max Velocity 01d 15m 31s
Average Velocity 00d 59m 2s

Min Acceleration -0.0424
Max Acceleration 0.042
Average Acceleration -0.000001

Sun

Min Velocity 00d 57m 10s
Max Velocity 01d 01m 12s
Average Velocity 00d 59m 8s

Min Acceleration -0.0008
Max Acceleration 0.0008
Average Acceleration -0.000000016

Mars

Min Velocity -00d 24m 4s
Max Velocity 00d 47m 29s
Average Velocity 00d 31m 25s

Min Acceleration -0.0152
Max Acceleration 0.0143
Average Acceleration 0.000000134

Jupiter


Min Velocity -00d 8m 12s
Max Velocity 00d 14m 33s
Average Velocity 00d 04m 58s

Min Acceleration -0.0035
Max Acceleration 0.0036
Average Acceleration -0.0000044

Saturn

Min Velocity -00d 04m 58s
Max Velocity 00d 07m 49s
Average Velocity 00d 01m 59.55s

Min Acceleration -0.002
Max Acceleration 0.002
Average Acceleration 0.0000038
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Greatest elongation:
Sun-Mercury = 27 degrees 47 min
Sun-Venus = 47 degrees 15 min

Percentage Retrograde (from 01 Jan 1900 to 31 Dec 1999):
Mercury = 19.1%
Venus = 7.3%
Mars = 9.5%
Jupiter = 30.4%
Saturn = 36.6%


Notes

1. The luminaries (sun and moon) can never have zero velocities for the same reason that they can never be in retrograde motion (i.e. their velocities are always positive). Hence, the values of minimum velocities given above are their slowest velocities.

2. For a planet (any of the five traditional planets), it can have zero velocity (when it is apparently stationary with respect to earth). Hence, the minimum velocity (always a negative value) shown is actually the maximum velocity of the planet when it is in retrograde motion.

3. When a planet?s velocity is zero, the planet is stationary.

4. When a planet?s velocity is positive, the planet is in direct motion.

5. When a planet?s velocity is negative, the planet is in retrograde motion.

6. When a planet?s acceleration is zero, the planet?s velocity is at its maximum or minimum.

7. When a planet?s acceleration is positive, the planet?s velocity is increasing.

8. When a planet?s acceleration is negative, the planet?s velocity is decreasing.