Physical properties of Neptune and Triton inferred from the Orbit of Triton

Details Physical properties of Neptune and Triton inferred from the Orbit of Triton Physical properties of Neptune and Triton inferred from the Orbit of Triton

Oct 1984

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1984nascp2330..357h&link_type=abstract

In its Uranus and Neptune p 357-373 (SEE N85-11927 02-91)

Statistics

Computation

11

Celestial Mechanics, Neptune (Planet), Orbits, Triton, Computation, Ephemeris Time, Photographs, Satellite Atmospheres

Scientific paper

The orbital motion of Triton was redetermined from photographic data spanning the interval 1899-1981. The resulting ephemeris should provide Triton positions with respect to Neptune with an accuracy of plus or minus 500 km through the end of the century. The following physical results follow from the orbit solution. The inverse mass of Neptune + Triton is solar mass over (cN + mT) = 19490 plus or minus 40. No acceleration of the mean motion nor orbital eccentricity were detected, thus constraining the tidal dissipation factors of Neptune and Triton to ON less than or equal to 650 and QT less than or equal to 10,000. Tidal heating of Triton is presently insignificant. The gravitational harmonic J2 of Neptune is 0.0043 plus or minus 0.0003 if Triton is as massive as mT/ MN = 0.00128, and if Neptune's spin is prograde with P approximately 18(h), or J2 = 0.0037 plus or minus 0.0002 if Triton is much less massive. Triton undergoes extreme climatic variations due to the combined motion of it's orbit plane and Neptune's orbital motion. Approximately 10% of Triton's surface is presently hidden from diurnal insolation, which may provide a powerful cold trap for atmospheric voltatiles.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Physical properties of Neptune and Triton inferred from the Orbit of Triton does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Physical properties of Neptune and Triton inferred from the Orbit of Triton, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Physical properties of Neptune and Triton inferred from the Orbit of Triton will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1229353