A halo orbit is a periodic, three-dimensional orbit near the L1, L2 or L3 Lagrange points in the three-body problem of orbital mechanics. Although the Lagrange point is just a point in empty space, its peculiar characteristic is that it can be orbited. Halo orbits are the result of a complicated interaction between the gravitational pull of the two planetary bodies and the Coriolis and centrifugal accelerations on a spacecraft. Halo orbits exist in many three-body systems, such as the Sun–Earth system and the Earth–Moon system. Continuous "families" of both Northern and Southern halo orbits exist at each Lagrange point. Because halo orbits tend to be unstable, stationkeeping is required to keep a satellite on the orbit.
Robert W. Farquhar first used the name "halo" for these orbits in his 1968 Ph.D. thesis. Farquhar advocated using spacecraft in a halo orbit on the far side of the Moon (Earth–Moon L2) as a communications relay station for an Apollo mission to the far side of the Moon. A spacecraft in such a halo orbit would be in continuous view of both the Earth and the far side of the Moon. In the end, neither a communication link satellite nor an Apollo co-mission positioned at L2 for a far side Apollo lunar landing ever took flight.
Halo- is a Greek prefix meaning "salt." In biology, it is often used to indicate halotolerance and is a portion of many words:
Halo is a live album, released in 2004, by Current 93. The front cover is a drawing by the same David Tibet which reproduces the cover of a Moody Blues album of 1971 Every Good Boy Deserves Favour.
Halo are a rock band from Bristol, England, who formed in 1999 and disbanded in 2004. In 2002, they released one album, and had three singles in the UK Singles Chart. They reformed in 2011 and are currently recording their second album.
The band’s journey began in 1999 when brothers Graeme and Iain Moncrieff joined forces with Jim Davey and then Stevie Yeomans. They developed a unique sound consisting of raw energy, soaring guitars, an unswerving rhythm section, epic songs and rich three-part vocal harmony.
Halo quickly gained a reputation for their electrifying live shows and soon found themselves on the radar of publishing giants Windswept Pacific, who snapped them up immediately after watching the band perform at The Astoria, London. Shortly afterwards Sony’s S2 label became favourites to sign them and the band promptly put pen to paper with Muff Winwood, head of Sony Europe, to sign a six album deal.
Halo’s first release, the ‘Still Here’ EP, was recorded in London and given away free to their rapidly expanding fan base with rave reviews. Kerrang urged readers not to ‘look this gift stallion in the mouth’ and to join Halo’s mailing list pronto.