code: def _get_xephem_orbital_elements(
              self):
          
          self.log.info('starting the ``_get_xephem_orbital_elements`` method')
  
          print "Getting the XEphem orbital element strings from the database"
  
          sqlQuery = u"""
              select pyephem_string, name, mpc_number from orbital_elements where include_in_match = 1
          """ % locals()
          rows = readquery(
              log=self.log,
              sqlQuery=sqlQuery,
              dbConn=self.atlasMoversDBConn,
              quiet=False
          )
  
          xephemOE = list(rows)
  
          self.log.info('completed the ``_get_xephem_orbital_elements`` method')
          return xephemOE
docs: *get xephem orbital elements*
  
          **Key Arguments:**
              - ``xephemOE`` -- a list of xephem database format strings for use with pyephem