A High-Precision, Differentiable Code for Solar System Ephemerides

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Cassese, Ben, Rice, Malena, Lu, Tiger
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Cassese, Ben
Rice, Malena
Lu, Tiger
author_facet Cassese, Ben
Rice, Malena
Lu, Tiger
contents We present jorbit, a python/JAX library designed to enable modern data-driven numerical studies of the solar system. Written entirely in JAX, an auto-differentiable and optionally GPU accelerated language behind many current large-scale machine learning efforts, jorbit includes an independent implementation of REBOUND's IAS15 integrator and the ability to parse precomputed ephemerides such as the JPL DE series. In its default behavior, jorbit maintains ~1 mas agreement with JPL Horizons on ~decade timescales for typical main-belt asteroids, enabling it to fully capitalize on high-precision astrometry and ranging data. We include details of the code's implementation and several worked examples, including illustrations of jorbit's ability to simulate N-body systems, forward model astrometric data, fit orbits, replicate the Minor Planet Center's "MPChecker" service, and contribute to modeling the effect of minor planets on stellar light curves.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2509_19549
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle A High-Precision, Differentiable Code for Solar System Ephemerides
Cassese, Ben
Rice, Malena
Lu, Tiger
Earth and Planetary Astrophysics
Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics
We present jorbit, a python/JAX library designed to enable modern data-driven numerical studies of the solar system. Written entirely in JAX, an auto-differentiable and optionally GPU accelerated language behind many current large-scale machine learning efforts, jorbit includes an independent implementation of REBOUND's IAS15 integrator and the ability to parse precomputed ephemerides such as the JPL DE series. In its default behavior, jorbit maintains ~1 mas agreement with JPL Horizons on ~decade timescales for typical main-belt asteroids, enabling it to fully capitalize on high-precision astrometry and ranging data. We include details of the code's implementation and several worked examples, including illustrations of jorbit's ability to simulate N-body systems, forward model astrometric data, fit orbits, replicate the Minor Planet Center's "MPChecker" service, and contribute to modeling the effect of minor planets on stellar light curves.
title A High-Precision, Differentiable Code for Solar System Ephemerides
topic Earth and Planetary Astrophysics
Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.19549