Two-body orbital energy (source code)

= Two-body orbital energy
{title2=$E=\mu\varepsilon$}

= Binary orbital energy
{synonym}

In the centre-of-mass frame of two Newtonian point masses, total orbital energy is reduced mass times <specific orbital energy>: $E=\mu[|\dot{\mathbf r}|^2/2-GM/r]$. The factor $\mu$ multiplies both kinetic and potential contributions, while $GM$ is the relative gravitational parameter.