ParticleIntegrator: Units

The majority of the Integrator uses the spice unit system to enable easy interaction with the spice functions. This unit system is equivalent to the SI unit system with the one difference that it measures distances in kilometres instead of metres.

In many places, the units of variables are noted when they are declared, such that many IDEs will show the unit upon mouseover of the variable anywhere in the code.

One exception for this rule is the calc_pInfo function, where SI units are used. This does also mean that the Solar luminosity and the particle radius are stored in SI units. Further exceptions, if they exist, are clearly noted within the code at the point where the variable is declared.

Solar System Coordinates

Throughout the application, the International Celestial Reference System is used with the J2000.0 epoch.