astro.Function.rocheLimitsForDensity

@elite-dangerous-almanac/core / astro / rocheLimitsForDensity

Function: rocheLimitsForDensity()

rocheLimitsForDensity(primary, satelliteDensityKgM3): RocheLimits | null

Defined in: src/astro/body-physics.ts:175

Roche limits around a primary for a satellite of a stated density.

Parameters

primary

BodyProperties

The body being orbited. Needs a mass and a Radius.

satelliteDensityKgM3

number

The orbiting material's density in kg/m³.

Returns

RocheLimits | null

Both limits in metres from the primary's centre, or null when the primary's own density cannot be computed.

Remarks

Use this when the satellite's density is assumed rather than measured — ring material, for instance, whose density comes from its class rather than from a mass and a radius (ringRocheLimits in ./body-rings is this function with that density filled in). When the satellite is a scanned body with a mass and a radius of its own, prefer rocheLimits, which reads the density off it.

Throws

If primary is not an object.

Throws

If satelliteDensityKgM3 is not a finite positive number — an assumed density is the caller's own figure, so a bad one is a mistake rather than a missing scan field.

Example

import { rocheLimitsForDensity } from '@elite-dangerous-almanac/core/astro/body-physics';

// Icy particles (1000 kg/m³) around an Earth-density primary.
const limits = rocheLimitsForDensity({ MassEM: 1, Radius: 6_371_000 }, 1000);
limits?.rigid; // -> 14181242.2…
limits?.fluid; // -> 27642167.3…