Precession of the epsilon ring of Uranus.
Abstract
It is noted that the outer and inner boundaries of the epsilon ring of Uranus can be fitted by aligned Keplerian ellipses. Four possible mechanisms for maintaining uniform precession in the epsilon ring are considered: the ring's self-gravity, precession due to a satellite, smooth pressure gradients, and shocklike phenomena. It is proposed that apse alignment is maintained by the self-gravity of the ring. In this case, a ring mass of approximately 5 x 10 to the 18th g and a mean surface density at quadrature of about 25 g/sq cm are estimated.
- Publication:
-
The Astronomical Journal
- Pub Date:
- October 1979
- DOI:
- 10.1086/112587
- Bibcode:
- 1979AJ.....84.1638G
- Keywords:
-
- Gravitational Effects;
- Precession;
- Uranus Rings;
- Ellipses;
- Kepler Laws;
- Natural Satellites;
- Particle Collisions;
- URANUS;
- RINGS;
- QUADRUPOLE MOMENTS;
- MASS;
- DENSITY;
- ECCENTRICITY;
- GRAVITY;
- SATELLITES;
- PRECESSION;
- PARTICLES;
- COLLISIONS;
- PRESSURE;
- GRADIENTS;
- Lunar and Planetary Exploration; Uranus;
- Uranus Rings