On the controversy over the effect of tidal friction upon the history of the Earth-Moon system a reply to comments by H. Gerstenkorn
Abstract
In a recent paper Gerstenkorn claims that discrepancies between the results of his integrations and those of Goldreich are due to an error in the latter's calculations. We show, contrary to this claim, that the source of these discrepancies is a fundamental error in Gerstenkorn's technique of averaging his equations over a processional period of the Earth-Moon system. As a result, Gerstenkorn's calculations are not quantitatively correct. However, the qualitative conclusions of his pioneering work on the past history of the Earth-Moon system are not affected by the error.
- Publication:
-
Icarus
- Pub Date:
- 1968
- DOI:
- 10.1016/0019-1035(68)90030-4
- Bibcode:
- 1968Icar....9..391G