On the Differential Correction of Nearly Parabolic Orbits

The differential correction of nearly parabolic orbits was discussed by the author (Herget, 1939) in the era of lead pencil computing. The Gauss-Marth method is the best one to use whenever the appropriate conditions exist, i.e., |E| < 64° and e nearly unity. The crucial point in the above-cited discussion is the use of the first differences from the Gauss-Marth tables in order to simplify the computation of the partial differential coefficients, namely dB/dA, dC/dA, and dD/dA.