Reorientation of Vesta: Gravity and Tectonic Predictions

Details Reorientation of Vesta: Gravity and Tectonic Predictions Reorientation of Vesta: Gravity and Tectonic Predictions

Dec 2011

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2011agufm.p23c1726m&link_type=abstract

American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2011, abstract #P23C-1726

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[6035] Planetary Sciences: Comets And Small Bodies / Orbital And Rotational Dynamics, [6040] Planetary Sciences: Comets And Small Bodies / Origin And Evolution

Scientific paper

Any major shift of mass could cause a shift of the rotation axis because the minimum energy state for a spinning body corresponds to principal axis rotation. Vesta's large southern hemisphere impact basin is likely to have caused reorientation. However, because the basin is not centered at the south pole, Vesta likely also has a remnant rotational figure. We quantify the expected reorientation taking into account the rotational stability provided by the remnant rotational figure and the effect of despinning. Reorientation of ≈6° is predicted to have occurred based on the dimensions of the basin. Existing measurements of Vesta's shape are consistent with ≈20° or less reorientation, and ≈20% or less despinning. Both the remnant rotational figure and the basin contribute to the degree-2 gravity coefficients, which will be measured by the Dawn mission and will provide a test of the reorientation hypothesis. Reorientation and despinning also give rise to stresses. Vesta's stress state is likely to be dominated by isotropic contraction due to cooling (which does not affect the gravity coefficients). However, the orientation of the resulting thrust features will be controlled by the amount of reorientation and despinning, providing another observational test.

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