Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune: Rotation Periods and Shapes

Details Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune: Rotation Periods and Shapes Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune: Rotation Periods and Shapes

Dec 2009

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009agufm.p51f1184h&link_type=abstract

American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2009, abstract #P51F-1184

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astronomy

[5744] Planetary Sciences: Fluid Planets / Orbital And Rotational Dynamics, [6220] Planetary Sciences: Solar System Objects / Jupiter, [6275] Planetary Sciences: Solar System Objects / Saturn, [6293] Planetary Sciences: Solar System Objects / Uranus

Scientific paper

The four giant planets, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune have strong zonal winds with velocities up to a few hundred meters per second. These zonal wind velocities, however, are based on assumed values of the solid-body rotation periods of the planets. Jupiter's kilometric radiation period of 9h 55m 29s has not changed in many decades, the 10h 39m 22s rotation period of Saturn, however, which derives from the Voyager era periodicity in Saturn's kilometric radiation (SKR), is now known to be variable and Saturn's rotation rate is therefore uncertain. Accordingly, the atmospheric zonal wind velocities with respect to the underlying rotating planet are unknown for Saturn. Uranus and Neptune rotation periods were derived from Voyager 2 radio astronomy observations to be 17h 14m 24s and 16h 06m 36s, respectively. Since we now realize that the kilometric radiation period might not represent the planet's deep interior rotation, we must consider the possibility that the Voyager 2 radio periodicities also do not represent the deep interior rotation of Uranus and Neptune. We use wind and shape data to investigate the rotation periods of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. We show that Jupiter's and Saturn's shapes are consistent with solid-body rotation periods of 9h 55m and 10h 32m, respectively. We suggest that zonal winds have a minor effect on the planetary shape for both Jupiter and Saturn. Uranus and Neptune shapes (oblateness) are found to be inconsistent with Voyager's solid-body rotation periods. We address the possibility of deep differential rotation on cylinders.

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