Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
Apr 2002
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2002aps..aprb17077p&link_type=abstract
American Physical Society, April Meeting, Jointly Sponsored with the High Energy Astrophysics Division (HEAD) of the American As
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
Scientific paper
We propose that the anomalously large inclinations of the inner moons Amalthea (I=0.33^circ) and Thebe (I=1.09^circ) result from kicks imparted by Io's strong resonances as those resonances scan across the location of the moons. Both the eccentricities and inclinations of the moons are excited during resonant passages. But while the eccentricities decay rapidly due to the large satellite tides raised by the planet, the inclinations are basically preserved since they decay slowly due to the tiny planetary tides raised by the satellite. Through analysis of our numerical simulations we were able to limit Io's formation distance from Jupiter to between 4.02 and 4.92 Jovian Radii. Io's 3:1 resonances can impart an inclination of ~ 0.3^circ to Amalthea, while the 4:2 resonance gives too large a kick. We find that either the 4:2 resonance acting alone, or in combination with the 5:3 and the 6:4, causes Thebe's inclination to rise to about 1 degree. Our theory naturally explains the high inclinations of these two small satellites.
Hamilton Douglas
Proctor Amanda
Rauch Kevin
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