<p>I've seen discussion threads where amateur astronomers estimate a satellite's <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orbital_elements" rel="nofollow noreferrer">orbital parameters</a> from angles-only telescope observation.  Are there any community tools or algorithms to help with this math? It's not a trivial problem to solve.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-02-06T17:23:10.143Z
Do you mean algorithms to estimate the position using its right ascension and declination? There are several methods available for that.
Astroynamicist
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-02-06T18:27:59.760Z
I'd like to estimate all the orbital parameters -- apogee, perigee, inclination, etc. I know it's done, but I was hoping for some libraries / tools to help do the job so I'm not coding up journal articles.
Carl F.
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-04-21T08:43:03.230Z
It looks like https://www.narom.no/undervisningsressurser/sarepta/rocket-theory/satellite-orbits/introduction-of-the-six-basic-parameters-describing-satellite-orbits/ describes what you are after.
B--rian
<amateur-observing><celestial-mechanics><satellite><astrometry>
Tools and algorithms for angles-only orbit estimation
Carl F.
# Tools and algorithms for angles-only orbit estimation

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-02-06)

I've seen discussion threads where amateur astronomers estimate a satellite's [orbital parameters](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orbital_elements) from angles-only telescope observation. Are there any community tools or algorithms to help with this math? It's not a trivial problem to solve.

**Tags:** amateur-observing, celestial-mechanics, satellite, astrometry

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Do you mean algorithms to estimate the position using its right ascension and declination? There are several methods available for that.  
> **username_0**: I'd like to estimate all the orbital parameters -- apogee, perigee, inclination, etc. I know it's done, but I was hoping for some libraries / tools to help do the job so I'm not coding up journal articles.  
> **username_2**: It looks like https://www.narom.no/undervisningsressurser/sarepta/rocket-theory/satellite-orbits/introduction-of-the-six-basic-parameters-describing-satellite-orbits/ describes what you are after.  

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