Equipotential surface and normal gravity of the Galilean satellites |
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| Authors: | Hong Zhang Cheng-zhi Zhang |
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| Institution: | Department of Astronomy, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, People's Republic of China |
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| Abstract: | In this article, expanded equations of normal gravity on the equipotential surface are proposed for a natural satellite whose orbital plane is close to its equatorial plane. Tidal effects on the normal gravity are also discussed. The authors apply these to the Galilean satellites. Calculations suggest that the tides raised by Jupiter weakly affect the Galilean satellites. The radial displacements of the gravity due to the tides are in the range between 10?3 and 10?5 m s?2, which are similar to the latitudinal and longitudinal displacements. The variations along the latitude circle are larger than those along the longitude circle. We conclude that the tidal effects on most of the Galilean satellites are larger than those on the Moon. |
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| Keywords: | celestial mechanics: satellites |
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