Box orbit

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In stellar dynamics a box orbit refers to a particular type of orbit which can be seen in triaxial systems, that is, systems which do not possess a symmetry around any of its axes. They contrast with the loop orbits which are observed in spherically symmetric or axisymmetric systems.

In a box orbit, the star oscillates independently along the three different axes as it moves through the system. As a result of this motion, it fills in a (roughly) box-shaped region of space. Unlike loop orbits, the stars on box orbits can come arbitrarily close to the center of the system. As a special case, if the frequencies of oscillations in different axes are exact multiples of each other, the orbit will be closed.

**Examples of box orbits** (in 2 dimensions)

Beginning of a box orbit	Many cycles of a box orbit	A closed box orbit

SOS Background Information: Orbits and Energy.

List of orbits

v • d • e Orbits
Orbit types	Box orbit • Circular orbit • Ecliptic orbit • Elliptic orbit • Highly Elliptical Orbit • Graveyard orbit • Hyperbolic trajectory • Inclined orbit • Osculating orbit • Parabolic trajectory • Capture orbit • Escape orbit • Semi-synchronous orbit • Subsynchronous orbit • Synchronous orbit
Earth-centered orbits	Geosynchronous orbit • Geostationary orbit • Sun-synchronous orbit • Low Earth orbit • Medium Earth Orbit • Molniya orbit • Near equatorial orbit • Orbit of the Moon • Polar orbit • Polar sun synchronous orbit • Tundra orbit
Other orbits	Areosynchronous orbit • Areostationary orbit • Lissajous orbit • Lunar orbit • Heliocentric orbit • Heliosynchronous orbit
Orbital elements	Inclination ( $i\,\!$ ) • Longitude of the ascending node ( $\Omega\,\!$ ) • Eccentricity ( $e\,\!$ ) • Argument of periapsis ( $\omega\,\!$ ) • Semi-major axis ( $a\,\!$ ) • Mean anomaly at epoch ( $M_o\,\!$ )
Other orbital parameters	True anomaly ( $v\,$ ) • Semi-minor axis ( $b\,$ ) • Linear eccentricity ( $\epsilon\,$ ) • Eccentric anomaly ( $E\,$ ) • Mean longitude ( $L\,$ ) • True longitude ( $l\,$ ) • Orbital period ( $T\,$ )
Orbital maneuvers	Bi-elliptic transfer • Geostationary transfer orbit • Gravitational slingshot • Hohmann transfer orbit • Orbital inclination change • Orbit phasing • Space rendezvous
Other orbital mechanics topics	Apsis • Celestial coordinate system • Delta-v budget • Epoch • Ephemeris • Equatorial coordinate system • Ground track • Interplanetary Transport Network • Kepler's laws of planetary motion • Lagrangian point • List of orbits • n-body problem • Orbit equation • Orbital state vectors • Retrograde and direct motion • Specific orbital energy • Specific relative angular momentum