The structure of the Uranian rings and the search for rings around Neptune

Details The structure of the Uranian rings and the search for rings around Neptune The structure of the Uranian rings and the search for rings around Neptune

Oct 1984

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1984nascp2330..575e&link_type=abstract

In JPL Uranus and Neptune p 575-588 (SEE N85-11927 02-91)

Physics

Dynamic Models, Eccentricity, Neptune (Planet), Occultation, Uranus (Planet), Uranus Rings, Kinematics, Miranda, Planetary Atmospheres, Spatial Resolution, Voyager Project

Scientific paper

The nine narrow rings of Uranus, presently the only confirmed features of this system, have been observed with the diffraction-limited resolution (3.5 km) of ground-based occultations since their discovery in 1977. These data have been used to establish an orbit model, from which the five Keplerian orbit parameters for each ring, the pole of the mean ring plane, and the gravitational harmonic coefficients J2 and J4 have been determined. The rings are typically a few kilometers wide with eccentricities of about 0.001 and inclinations of a few hundredths of a degree, although a few have no measurable eccentricity or inclination. Interesting Voyager investigations would include probing the structure of the rings at higher spatial resolution, searching for new rings in the system (including inter-ring material), locating the postulated shepherd satellites, and searching for satellites inside the orbit of Miranda that might have dynamical influence on the rings. The high precision (approx 2 km) of the ring orbits might prove useful for spacecraft navigation. For Neptune, occultation searches have revealed no rings to a limit of a few hundreths optical depth, within a few hundred kilometers from the top of the planet's atmosphere (for equatorial rings).

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

The structure of the Uranian rings and the search for rings around Neptune 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 The structure of the Uranian rings and the search for rings around Neptune, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and The structure of the Uranian rings and the search for rings around Neptune will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1229374