<p>Is it possible to get the ecliptic coordinates of orbits of planets for a specific date and time? Does the ephemeris data of planets help in constructing that? Any help on this would be helpful. I would like to get the planetary orbit data that I can plot in a map.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-11-25T21:17:29.803Z
Converting from RA & declination to ecliptic latitude and longitude is simple spherical trigonometry. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celestial_coordinate_system for the relevant formulae.
PM 2Ring
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-11-25T23:35:04.703Z
Answers to [Where can I find/visualize planets/stars/moons/etc positions?](https://astronomy.stackexchange.com/q/13488/7982) may be helpful. The two I find most helpful are the [Python package Skyfield](https://rhodesmill.org/skyfield/) and[JPL's [Horizons website.](https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/horizons.cgi).
uhoh
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-11-25T23:42:52.710Z
If you are interested at all in using or learning Python then Skyfield works simply and nicely and can [convert to ecliptic coordinates](https://space.stackexchange.com/a/15154/12102). If you'd like to try Horozons [here's a tutorial](https://space.stackexchange.com/q/25256/12102) and here's [how to convert to ecliptic coordinates](https://space.stackexchange.com/a/15436/12102).  Are either of these methods something that you'd like to try?
uhoh
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-11-26T01:37:42.627Z
@uhoh i know a bit of python, but will i be able to construct the orbit from the ephemeris data?
Rasika
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-11-26T01:52:34.963Z
@PM2Ring will i be able to construct the orbit from ephemeris data?
Rasika
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-11-26T03:57:37.507Z
@Rasika I'm a little confused by your comment because that's exactly what ephemeris data is for! Skyfield and Horizons use JPL's [Development Ephemerides](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jet_Propulsion_Laboratory_Development_Ephemeris) which are in essence just large tables of their own flavor of Chebyshev interpolation coefficients optimized to produce uniform low error no matter where you interpolate. Using either Skyfield or Horizons you specify your own series of time points and they will give you the positions of the object along its orbit.
uhoh
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-11-26T04:04:35.143Z
However, if by "construct the orbit" you mean to generate a set of **fixed Keplerian orbital elements** ($a, \epsilon, i, \omega$...) then no, these are by themselves not going to do that. These are meant to provide very accurate predictions at specific points in time taking into consideration all physical effects. Keplerian orbits are only approximate. Horizons does give osculating elements though. The more you explain about exactly the form of what you need, the more specific the answer can be. [Here's what you can do](https://astronomy.stackexchange.com/a/30184/7982) w/ Skyfield for example
uhoh
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-11-26T04:04:59.123Z
and [here's another example](https://astronomy.stackexchange.com/a/30141/7982)
uhoh
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-11-26T04:32:41.000Z
@uhoh actually i want to plot the orbit of planets on the earth for a given time and date, for that i need latitude and longitude correct? if we see a position of planet what we get is a single point , from that i cannot construct the orbit of it. please apologise if my question is wrong
Rasika
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-11-26T05:29:06.123Z
Let us [continue this discussion in chat](https://chat.stackexchange.com/rooms/101497/discussion-between-rasika-and-uhoh).
Rasika
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-11-26T05:33:08.910Z
@Rasika In that case Skyfield has a [`.subpoint()`](https://rhodesmill.org/skyfield/api-position.html#skyfield.positionlib.Geocentric.subpoint) method that might do exactly what you need. Okay *see you in chat!*
uhoh
<orbit><ecliptic>
Orbits of planets in ecliptic coordinates
Rasika
# Orbits of planets in ecliptic coordinates

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-11-25)

Is it possible to get the ecliptic coordinates of orbits of planets for a specific date and time? Does the ephemeris data of planets help in constructing that? Any help on this would be helpful. I would like to get the planetary orbit data that I can plot in a map.

**Tags:** orbit, ecliptic

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Converting from RA & declination to ecliptic latitude and longitude is simple spherical trigonometry. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celestial_coordinate_system for the relevant formulae.  
> **username_2**: Answers to [Where can I find/visualize planets/stars/moons/etc positions?](https://astronomy.stackexchange.com/q/13488/7982) may be helpful. The two I find most helpful are the [Python package Skyfield](https://rhodesmill.org/skyfield/) and[JPL's [Horizons website.](https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/horizons.cgi).  
> **username_2**: If you are interested at all in using or learning Python then Skyfield works simply and nicely and can [convert to ecliptic coordinates](https://space.stackexchange.com/a/15154/12102). If you'd like to try Horozons [here's a tutorial](https://space.stackexchange.com/q/25256/12102) and here's [how to convert to ecliptic coordinates](https://space.stackexchange.com/a/15436/12102).  Are either of these methods something that you'd like to try?  
> **username_0**: @username_2 i know a bit of python, but will i be able to construct the orbit from the ephemeris data?  
> **username_0**: @username_1 will i be able to construct the orbit from ephemeris data?  
> **username_2**: @username_0 I'm a little confused by your comment because that's exactly what ephemeris data is for! Skyfield and Horizons use JPL's [Development Ephemerides](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jet_Propulsion_Laboratory_Development_Ephemeris) which are in essence just large tables of their own flavor of Chebyshev interpolation coefficients optimized to produce uniform low error no matter where you interpolate. Using either Skyfield or Horizons you specify your own series of time points and they will give you the positions of the object along its orbit.  
> **username_2**: However, if by "construct the orbit" you mean to generate a set of **fixed Keplerian orbital elements** ($a, \epsilon, i, \omega$...) then no, these are by themselves not going to do that. These are meant to provide very accurate predictions at specific points in time taking into consideration all physical effects. Keplerian orbits are only approximate. Horizons does give osculating elements though. The more you explain about exactly the form of what you need, the more specific the answer can be. [Here's what you can do](https://astronomy.stackexchange.com/a/30184/7982) w/ Skyfield for example  
> **username_2**: and [here's another example](https://astronomy.stackexchange.com/a/30141/7982)  
> **username_0**: @username_2 actually i want to plot the orbit of planets on the earth for a given time and date, for that i need latitude and longitude correct? if we see a position of planet what we get is a single point , from that i cannot construct the orbit of it. please apologise if my question is wrong  
> **username_0**: Let us [continue this discussion in chat](https://chat.stackexchange.com/rooms/101497/discussion-between-username_0-and-username_2).  
> **username_2**: @username_0 In that case Skyfield has a [`.subpoint()`](https://rhodesmill.org/skyfield/api-position.html#skyfield.positionlib.Geocentric.subpoint) method that might do exactly what you need. Okay *see you in chat!*  

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## 0 answers

