On 6/30/2010 4:00 AM, Invisible wrote:
> SharkD wrote:
>
>> Using this tool I am able to retrieve information to model the
>> planets' orbits. But what about the rotation of the planets?
>>
>> Did I miss something? Where can I dig up this info?
>
> You could try prodding Wolfram Alpha just for giggles. It might
> conceivably have the data you want. (Assuming you can guess what the
> correct query string is...)


As for the starting rotation amounts, I've come up with the following 
scheme:

1. I already have a set of stored dates for when each planet was last at 
perihelion which I can reuse.
2. On HORIZONS I look up what the local sidereal time was at the 
planet's meridian on that same date.
3. I rotate the planet to match the local sidereal time.
4. I calculate the difference between the stored perihelion date and 
today's date.
5. I rotate the planet even more to match today's date.

Hopefully, I am understanding the parameters and how they should be used 
correctly.



-- 
http://isometricland.com

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