Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Oct 1974
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1974icar...23..192s&link_type=abstract
Icarus, vol. 23, Oct. 1974, p. 192-205.
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
46
Mercury (Planet), Planetary Evolution, Planetary Structure, Planetary Temperature, Thermophysical Properties, Abundance, Astronomical Models, Chemical Composition, Heat Transfer, Radioactivity, Solar System
Scientific paper
Mercury's thermal evolution and internal structure are modeled based on the planet's gross physical properties (which imply a high metallic iron content) and predictions for its chemistry made from the Lewis-Cameron model of condensation of the primitive solar nebula (which implies that Mercury may be composed only of those materials that condensed at temperatures near that of metallic iron condensation in the cooling nebula). Various heat sources, initial temperatures, and thermal conductivities are considered for a homogeneous model and a differentiated two-layer model. Density distributions are calculated from the mean density and estimates of the present-day temperature. The moment of inertia and the hydrostatic value of the second degree harmonic coefficient of Mercury's gravity field are found for the differentiated and undifferentiated models. These results should be useful for preliminary interpretation of the Mariner 10 measurements of Mercury's gravitational field.
Siegfried W. II R.
Solomon Stanley C.
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