# Simplification of trigonometric expression regarding planetary orbits

I am trying to solve an orbital problem concerned with analytically calculating the solstice points of an orbit. I have managed to reach a point in the problem where I need to simplify the trigonometric expression $$\frac{e \sin^2\theta + \cos\theta}{\sin\theta - e \sin\theta \cos\theta}$$

If someone could give me some tips, that would be great.

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The only simplification I can see is dividing through the numerator and denominator by $\sin \theta$, which is fairly minor. I'm almost sure that without specifying a particular value of $e$ you will not be able to get anything more simple than that. Is there a specific form of expression you want to get? –  Logan Maingi Sep 13 '12 at 21:03

It's not clear what you are looking for, but because $e\,\sin^2\theta=e-e\,\cos^2\theta$, you have: $$\frac{e\,\sin^2\theta+\cos\theta}{\sin\theta-e\,\sin\theta\cos\theta}=\frac{e+\cos\theta(1-e\,\cos\theta)}{\sin\theta(1-e\,\cos\theta)}=\cot\theta+\frac{\csc\theta}{\frac{1}{e}-\cos\theta}.$$ This is arguably "simplified". Specifically, it highlights $e=1$ as a place where something interesting is going on.
Let me explain. I was trying to determine the solstice and equinox points of an orbit given its parameters such as eccentricity and longitude of ascending node. Using those orbital parameters, I calculated three orthogonal vectors which served as the coordinate system of the orbital plane (A.K.A the ecliptic). The I determined an equation for the position of the orbiting body at any point $\theta$ in the orbit. Using this and the body's axis of rotation, I derived an equation for the distance of the central body above the orbiting body's ecliptic. $$D\left(\theta\right)=-r\left(\theta\right)\left[ \tilde{a}\cdot S^O_x \cos\left(\theta\right) + \tilde{a}\cdot S^O_z \sin\left(\theta\right) \right]$$ A solstice occurs when this distance is at a maximum, and an equinox occurs when it's distance is zero. The equinox calculation is easy, $$\theta=\text{arccot}\left(\frac{\tilde{a}\cdot S^O_x}{\tilde{a}\cdot S^O_z}\right)-\frac{\pi}{2}$$ But the solstice is harder. Doing the usual approach, you find the derivative, and then set it to zero and solve for $\theta$. Problem is, you end up having multiple trigonometric functions that are difficult to reduce to one. You end up with this expression $$\frac{\tilde{a}\cdot S^O_x}{\tilde{a}\cdot S^O_z}=\frac{\cos\theta+\epsilon}{\sin\theta}$$ This is completely different from what I presented in the question, but that's why I prefaced by saying I made a mistake. This is deceptively simple to solve. You rewrite the expression such that $$\cos\theta-\frac{\tilde{a}\cdot S^O_x}{\tilde{a}\cdot S^O_z}\sin\theta+\epsilon=0$$ Then, using the identity$$a\sin x + b\cos x=\sqrt{a^2+b^2}\sin\left(x+\text{sgn}(b)\arccos\left(\frac{a}{\sqrt{a^2+b^2}}\right)\right)$$ we can reduce the two trigonometric functions in the expression to just one. $$\frac{\sigma}{\tilde{a}\cdot S^O_z}\sin\left(\theta+\arccos\left[-\frac{\tilde{a}\cdot S^O_x}{\sigma}\right]\right)+\epsilon=0$$where $\sigma=\sqrt{\left(\tilde{a}\cdot S^O_x\right)^2+\left(\tilde{a}\cdot S^O_z\right)^2}$. We're left with an expression that's easy to solve now. We solve for $\theta$ and get $$\theta=\arcsin\left(-\frac{\epsilon(\tilde{a}\cdot S^O_z)}{\sigma}\right)-\arccos\left(-\frac{\tilde{a}\cdot S^O_x}{\sigma}\right)$$