Argument of latitude

In celestial mechanics, the argument of latitude (${\displaystyle u}$) is an angular parameter that defines the position of a body moving along a Kepler orbit. It is the angle between the ascending node and the body.

It is the sum of the more commonly used true anomaly and argument of periapsis.

${\displaystyle u=\nu +\omega }$

where ${\displaystyle u}$ is the argument of latitude, ${\displaystyle \nu }$ the true anomaly, and ${\displaystyle \omega }$ the argument of periapsis.

References

• Wakker, K. F. (2007). "Astrodynamics", Delft University of Technology.