Planetary Conjunction Separation Degrees Checker
Actualalreadyindependentmatchedplanetdirectionvector greatcircleseparation/callerlimit,not conjunctiondateephemeris prediction. Actual independent model/unit/frame/epoch/calibration and applicable measurement established;not precise ephemeris,forecast,geodesy operation,identity or safety approval.
Description
A conjunction review can compare two sky directions by their great-circle angular separation.
A conjunction review can compare two sky directions by their great-circle angular separation.1
This checker uses caller-supplied unit vectors in one frame and a caller-selected inclusive angle limit rather than predicting conjunction dates.
When to use Planetary Conjunction Separation Degrees Checker
Use this tool to apply the stated planetary conjunction separation degrees checker operation with an explicit input and unit basis.
How to use Planetary Conjunction Separation Degrees Checker and how it works
- Establish the measurement basis and units described above.
- Enter actualSameFrameUnitVectorA, actualSameFrameUnitVectorB, callerIndependentConjunctionReviewLimitDegrees and run the tool.
- Read result.greatCircleSeparationDegrees, result.withinCallerConjunctionReviewLimit using the output meanings below.
- If input is rejected, correct the stated type, range, ordering or alignment issue and rerun; review successful results under the declared convention.
| Input field | Meaning | Value type | Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| actualSameFrameUnitVectorA | Same Frame Unit Vector A. Units, ordering and applicable branch are specified in the algorithm. | array of number | required; dense; align related rows as specified; further conditions in the algorithm |
| actualSameFrameUnitVectorB | Same Frame Unit Vector B. Units, ordering and applicable branch are specified in the algorithm. | array of number | required; dense; align related rows as specified; further conditions in the algorithm |
| callerIndependentConjunctionReviewLimitDegrees | Conjunction Review Limit Degrees. Units, ordering and applicable branch are specified in the algorithm. | number | required; finite; nonnegative; further conditions in the algorithm |
Require two three-component vectors with norms within 1e−8 of one and a review limit 0–180 degrees. Calculate atan2 of cross-product norm and dot product, convert to degrees and compare with the limit. Frame, epoch and vector provenance are not checked.
separation = atan2(norm(A×B), A·B) in degrees; within limit when separation ≤ limit Apply the declared units, ordering and branch conditions.
| Output field | Meaning | Value type |
|---|---|---|
| result | Object containing the declared output fields. | object |
| result.greatCircleSeparationDegrees | Vector angular separation in degrees. | number |
| result.withinCallerConjunctionReviewLimit | True when separation is at most the supplied review limit. | boolean |
{
"input": {
"actualSameFrameUnitVectorA": [
1,
0,
0
],
"actualSameFrameUnitVectorB": [
0,
1,
0
],
"callerIndependentConjunctionReviewLimitDegrees": 5
},
"output": {
"result": {
"greatCircleSeparationDegrees": 90,
"withinCallerConjunctionReviewLimit": false
}
}
}Limitations and assumptions
The output applies the declared operation to the values you supply. Establish the measurement basis, units, coefficients and any caller-selected rules before interpreting it. The tool does not independently collect or verify observations or decide whether a model or reference applies.
Supply explicit required fields with the documented types and dense aligned arrays. Unknown fields, wrong types and nonfinite numbers are rejected. Branch-specific constraints are explained above. A returned boolean, signed difference or tied result follows the stated convention; an input error instead means the required input contract was not satisfied. Very large inputs or outputs may be rejected by shared resource limits.
Alternative or Complementary methods
For a related operation, use Rise/Set Hour Angle Formula. Rise and set geometry can be formulated as crossings of a caller-selected altitude.
For a related operation, use Maximum Transit Altitude Calculator. A star’s upper meridian transit is its highest altitude during an ideal diurnal circle.
References
Similar or alternative tools
- Rise/Set Hour Angle Formula
Rise and set geometry can be formulated as crossings of a caller-selected altitude.
- Maximum Transit Altitude Calculator
A star’s upper meridian transit is its highest altitude during an ideal diurnal circle.