The Gravity Field of the Saturnian System from Satellite Observations and Spacecraft Tracking Data
Abstract
We present values for the masses of Saturn and its major satellites, the zonal harmonics in the spherical harmonic expansion of Saturn's gravitational potential, and the orientation of the pole of Saturn. We determined these values using an extensive data set: satellite astrometry from Earth-based observatories and the Hubble Space Telescope; Earth-based, Voyager 1, and Voyager 2 ring occultation measurements; Doppler tracking data from Pioneer 11; and Doppler tracking, radiometric range, and imaging data from Voyager 1, Voyager 2, and Cassini.
- Publication:
-
The Astronomical Journal
- Pub Date:
- December 2006
- DOI:
- Bibcode:
- 2006AJ....132.2520J
- Keywords:
-
- Gravitation;
- Planets and Satellites: General;
- Planets and Satellites: Individual: Saturn