def _get_xephem_orbital_elements(
            self):
        """*get xephem orbital elements*

        **Key Arguments:**
            - ``xephemOE`` -- a list of xephem database format strings for use with pyephem
        """
        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