Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
Dec 2004
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2004sf2a.conf...39r&link_type=abstract
SF2A-2004: Semaine de l'Astrophysique Francaise, meeting held in Paris, France, June 14-18, 2004. Edited by F. Combes, D. Barret
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
Scientific paper
The upcoming space missions, MESSENGER and BepiColombo with onboard instrumentation capable of measuring the rotational parameters stimulate the objective to reach an accurate theory of the rotational motion of Mercury. Our work deals with the physical and dynamical causes that induce librations of Mercury in order to evaluate accurately the rotational motion of this planet. In this aim, we have extended our BJV relativistic model of solar system integration including the spin-orbit coupled motion of the Moon to the spin-orbit coupling of terrestrial planets and particularly to Mercury (the BJV model was previously built by Bois, Journet and Vokrouhlicky in accordance with the requirements of the Lunar Laser Ranging observational accuracy). The model is at present called SONYR, acronym of Spin-Orbit N-BodY Relativistic model. Using the model, we can analyze the different families of rotational librations and identify their causes such as the planetary interactions or the impact of the parameters describing the dynamical figure of Mercury. In addition, the spin-orbit motion of Mercury is characterized by two proper frequencies (15.847 and 1066 years). Mercury presents also, between its angle of precession and the ascending node of the orbit, a second synchronism of 278898 years, which can be understood as a spin-orbit secular resonance. Besides, within the SONYR model, which integrates simultaneously the orbital and rotational motion of Mercury, we have been able to improve the Hermean's mean obliquity (1.665 arcminutes) and we identify the non-linear relationship between the dynamical figure and both the obliquity and the angle of libration in longitude. These determinations provide constraints on the internal structure of Mercury.
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