An object's semi-major axis can be computed from its period and the mass of the body it orbits using the following formula:

  • a is the semi-major axis of the object
  • T is the orbital period
  • G is the gravitational constant
  • M is the mass of the parent body

Default unitsAcceptable substitute units
ameters (m)kilometers (km), Earth radii (Re), Solar radii (Rs), astronomical units (AU), light years (ly), parsec (pc)
Tseconds (s)minutes (m), hours (h), days (d), years (yr)
GN m2kg-2
Mkilograms (kg)grams (g), Earth masses (Me), Solar masses (Ms)