Calculate the time it takes for an object to complete one orbit.
Orbital Parameters
kg
m
m
Period Results
Enter parameters to calculate period
Quick Reference
TOrbital Period
aSemi-major Axis (Radius)
GGravitational Constant
MMass of Central Body
Overview
The orbital period is the time a given astronomical object takes to complete one orbit around another object. It is derived from Kepler's Third Law of Planetary Motion.
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Pro Tips
Orbital Radius (r) = Central Body Radius + Altitude.
The mass of the orbiting object is usually negligible compared to the central body.
T = 2π√(a³ / GM), where 'a' is the semi-major axis.
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Fun Facts
"The International Space Station (ISS) orbits Earth approximately every 90 minutes."
"A geostationary orbit has a period of exactly 23 hours, 56 minutes, and 4 seconds (one sidereal day)."
"Pluto's orbital period around the Sun is approximately 248 Earth years."
