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Procedures for solving Kepler's equation

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Abstract

We review starting formulae and iteration processes for the solution of Kepler's equation, and give details of two complete procedures. The first has been in use for a number of years, but the second is entirely new. The new procedure operates with an iterative process that always gives fourth-order convergence and is taken to only two iterations. The error in the resulting solution then never exceeds 7×10−15 rad.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Royal Aircraft Establishment, Farnborough, Hants, England

    A. W. Odell & R. H. Gooding

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  1. A. W. Odell
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  2. R. H. Gooding
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Odell, A.W., Gooding, R.H. Procedures for solving Kepler's equation. Celestial Mechanics 38, 307–334 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01238923

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01238923

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