Phrase guide

halo orbit

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

A periodic, three-dimensional orbit about any one of the Lagrange points L1, L2 or L3 of a two-body gravitational system.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Qualifier: orbital mechanics

Examples

  • 2013, Yuhui Zhao, Shoucun Hu, Xiyun Hou, Lin Liu, Chapter 39: On Nominal Formation Flying Orbit with a Small Solar System Body, Rongjun Shen, Weiping Qian (editors), Proceedings of the 26th Conference of Spacecraft TT&C Technology in China, Tsinghua University Press, Springer, Lecture Notes in Electrical Engineering 187, page 395, If the ratio of the amplitude in x-direction to γ1 keeps unchanged (=0.155), the periods of halo orbits are almost the same (about 190 days). As a result of the stability of CRTBP and the dynamics of halo orbit formation, nominal halo orbits do not exist if the ratio is too large or too small.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: orbit

History

Etymology

First used by NASA mission specialist Robert W. Farquhar in 1966 for calculated orbits around the Earth–Moon L2 point which required the use of thrusters to be made periodic.

Across languages

Translations

3 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • French: orbite de halo — type of orbit about a Lagrange point
  • German: Halo-Orbit — type of orbit about a Lagrange point
  • Italian: orbita halo — type of orbit about a Lagrange point