light_time_from_tx_epoch#

pride.astro.light_time_from_tx_epoch(tdb_tx: astropy.time.Time, xsrc_bcrf_tx: numpy.ndarray, receiver_id: str, perturbing_bodies: list[str], precision: float, max_iterations: int) → astropy.time.TimeDelta#

Light-time between source and receiver from TX epoch

Given a transmission epoch and the associated position of the transmitter in BCRF, calculates the light-time for a source (transmitter) identified by a name or ID known to SPICE, using the Newton-Raphson algorithm as formulated in Duev 2012 (10.1051/0004-6361/201218885).

The estimated light-time results from iteratively solving the light-time equation with precision settings specified by the user, and considering post-Newtonian relativistic perturbations caused by the list of massive bodies passed as input.

The function returns the light-time between source and receiver in TDB seconds.

Parameters:

  • tdb_tx – TX epoch in TDB

  • xsrc_bcrf_tx – BCRF position vector of source at TX epoch

  • receiver_id – Name or ID of receiver known to SPICE

  • perturbing_bodies – List of names or IDs of massive bodies to be considered for relativistic corrections. Must be known to SPICE

  • precision – Tolerance to be used in the computation of the light-time

  • max_iterations – Maximum number of iterations to perform when computing the light-time when requested precision cannot be achieved.

Returns:

Light-time between source and receiver in TDB seconds