In this paper, we make a detailed study of the spin–orbit dynamics of Mercury, as predicted by the realistic model that has been recently introduced in a series of papers mainly by Efroimsky and Makarov. We present numerical and analytical results concerning the nature of the librations of Mercury's spin in the 3:2 resonance. The results provide evidence that the librations are quasi-periodic in time, consisting of a slow oscillation, with an amplitude of order of arcminutes, superimposed on the 88-d libration. This contrasts with recent astronomical observations and hence suggests that the 3:2 resonance in which Mercury has been trapped might have been originally described by a large-amplitude quasi-periodic libration that, only at a later stage, with the formation of a molten core, evolved into the small-amplitude libration that is observed today.
Bartuccelli, M., Deane, J., & Gentile, G. (2017). Periodic and quasi-periodic attractors for the spin–orbit evolution of Mercury with a realistic tidal torque. MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, 469(1), 127-150.
Titolo: | Periodic and quasi-periodic attractors for the spin–orbit evolution of Mercury with a realistic tidal torque |
Autori: | |
Data di pubblicazione: | 2017 |
Rivista: | |
Citazione: | Bartuccelli, M., Deane, J., & Gentile, G. (2017). Periodic and quasi-periodic attractors for the spin–orbit evolution of Mercury with a realistic tidal torque. MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, 469(1), 127-150. |
Abstract: | In this paper, we make a detailed study of the spin–orbit dynamics of Mercury, as predicted by the realistic model that has been recently introduced in a series of papers mainly by Efroimsky and Makarov. We present numerical and analytical results concerning the nature of the librations of Mercury's spin in the 3:2 resonance. The results provide evidence that the librations are quasi-periodic in time, consisting of a slow oscillation, with an amplitude of order of arcminutes, superimposed on the 88-d libration. This contrasts with recent astronomical observations and hence suggests that the 3:2 resonance in which Mercury has been trapped might have been originally described by a large-amplitude quasi-periodic libration that, only at a later stage, with the formation of a molten core, evolved into the small-amplitude libration that is observed today. |
Handle: | http://hdl.handle.net/11590/327641 |
Appare nelle tipologie: | 1.1 Articolo in rivista |