English

Noun

mean planet ‎(plural mean planets)

1. (astronomy, celestial mechanics) An imaginary celestial body (corresponding to another, real, orbiting one) which orbits with constant speed along an auxiliary circle (a circle which shares a diameter with the major axis of the elliptical orbit of the corresponding real celestial body), such that its position coincides with the position of the corresponding, real celestial body when that body passes through periapsis.

Related terms

• mean anomaly