Uranus after Voyager 2 and the Origin of the Solar System

1986 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 394-402 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. J. R. Prentice
Keyword(s):  
Solar System ◽  
Clathrate Hydrate ◽  
Turbulence Parameter ◽  
Convective Turbulence ◽  
Satellite Systems ◽  
Equatorial Radius ◽  
Voyager 2 ◽  
Uranian Satellites

AbstractThe discoveries made by the Voyager 2 spacecraft at Uranus in January 1986 are discussed in the light of the modern Laplacian theory for the formation of the solar system. Various accounts of this theory, which has as its basis the concept of supersonic convective turbulence, have been presented at previous meetings of the ASA (Prentice 1977, 1979, 1981a). The most important confirmation by Voyager was the discovery of 2 new satellite groups near orbital radii 2½ RUand 3½ RU(RU= Uranus’ equatorial radius = 26, 200 km), as first predicted in 1977. The discovery that the densities of the Uranian satellites are consistent with these bodies having condensed in a single compositional class, consisting of anhydrous rock, NH3ice and CH4.6H2O clathrate hydrate in normal solar proportions, confirms the hypothesis that the chemistry of all planetary/regular satellite systems are accounted for by a single choice of the turbulence parameter, namely β = 0.107 ±0.001. The implication of the Voyager data for the origin of comets is also discussed.

Hydrogen sulfide clathrate hydrate FTIR spectroscopy: A help gas for clathrate formation in the Solar System?

Icarus ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 220 (2) ◽  
pp. 427-434 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Dartois ◽  
Ph. Duret ◽  
U. Marboeuf ◽  
B. Schmitt
Keyword(s):  
Hydrogen Sulfide ◽  
Solar System ◽  
Ftir Spectroscopy ◽  
Clathrate Hydrate ◽  
Clathrate Formation

Topography and geology of Uranian mid-sized icy satellites in comparison with Saturnian and Plutonian satellites

2020 ◽  
Vol 378 (2187) ◽  
pp. 20200102
Author(s):  
Paul M. Schenk ◽  
Jeffrey M. Moore
Keyword(s):  
Internal Heat ◽  
Dominant Mode ◽  
Surface Processes ◽  
Topographic Mapping ◽  
Icy Satellites ◽  
Satellite Systems ◽  
New Horizons ◽  
Uranian Satellites ◽  
Volatile Transport ◽  
Fault Network

Newly processed global imaging and topographic mapping of Uranus's five major satellites reveal differences and similarities to mid-sized satellites at Saturn and Pluto. Three modes of internal heat redistribution are recognized. The broad similarity of Miranda's three oval resurfacing zones to those mapped on Enceladus and (subtly) on Dione are likely due to antipodal diapiric upwelling. Conversely, break-up and foundering of crustal blocks accompanied by extensive (cryo)volcanism is the dominant mode on both Charon and Ariel. Titania's fault network finds parallels on Rhea, Dione, Tethys and possibly Oberon. Differences in the geologic style of resurfacing in the satellite systems (e.g. plains on Charon, Dione, Tethys and perhaps Titania versus ridges on Miranda and Ariel) may be driven by differences in ice composition. Surface processes such as volatile transport may also be indicated by bright and dark materials on Oberon, Umbriel and Charon. The more complete and higher quality observations of the Saturnian and Plutonian mid-sized icy satellites by Cassini and New Horizons reveal a wealth of features and phenomena that cannot be perceived in the more limited Voyager coverage of the Uranian satellites, harbingers of many discoveries awaiting us on a return to Uranus. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue ‘Future exploration of ice giant systems'.

scholarly journals Neptune’s Triton: A Moon Rich in Dry Ice and Carbon?

1990 ◽  
Vol 8 (04) ◽  
pp. 364-367 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. J. R. Prentice
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Composition ◽  
Solar System ◽  
Catalytic Synthesis ◽  
Outer Solar System ◽  
Solid Carbon ◽  
Convective Turbulence ◽  
Water Ice ◽  
Large Satellite ◽  
Unique Composition ◽  
Crucial Test

AbstractThe encounter of the spacecraftVoyager 2with Neptune and its large satellite Triton in August 1989 will provide a crucial test of ideas regarding the origin and chemical composition of the outer solar system. In this pre-encounter paper we quantify the possibility that Triton is a captured moon which, like Pluto and Charon, originally condensed as a major planetesimal within the gas ring that was shed by the contracting protosolar cloud at Neptune’s orbit. Ideas of supersonic convective turbulence are used to compute the gas pressure, temperature and rate of catalytic synthesis of CH4, CO2and solid carbon within the protosolar cloud, assuming that all C is initially present as CO. The calculations lead to a unique composition for Triton, Pluto, and Charon: each body consists of, by mass, 18.5% solid CO2ice, 4% graphite, 0.5% CH4ice, 29% methanated water ice and 48% anhydrous rock. This mix has a density consistent with that of the Pluto-Charon system and yields a predicted mean density for Triton of 2.20±0.05 g cm−3, for satellite radius equal to 1750 km.

Near-commensurate satellite orbits in the solar system

1966 ◽  
Vol 25 ◽  
pp. 268-270
Author(s):  
P. Goldreich
Keyword(s):  
Solar System ◽  
Satellite Orbits ◽  
Satellite Systems ◽  
Tidal Forces ◽  
Special Cases

An explanation of the improbably large number of near-commensurate pairs of satellite mean motions is proposed. It is shown that special cases of near-commensurate mean motions are stable under tidal forces. At least seven of the best illustrations of commensurabilities in the solar system have this stability. The significance of these stable configurations to the evolution of satellite systems is discussed.

Abandon in Place

2020 ◽  
pp. 88-94
Author(s):  
Jonathan R. Eller
Keyword(s):  
Solar System ◽  
Outer Solar System ◽  
Jet Propulsion ◽  
Voyager 2 ◽  
Returning Home ◽  
Animated Film ◽  
Jet Propulsion Laboratory ◽  
To Come ◽  
The Mind

After returning home from Europe in 1978, Bradbury was unable to come to agreement with the Smithsonian over “The Ghosts of Forever,” an animated film fantasy tour of the various Smithsonian museums. Chapter 12 goes on to document how the Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 journeys to the outer solar system prompted NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory at Caltech to bring Bradbury back together with his “Mars and the Mind of Man” colleagues Arthur C. Clarke, Carl Sagan, and JPL director Bruce Murray to form the symposium “Jupiter and the Mind of Man.” The chapter also describes the uneven production and mixed reception of the NBC miniseries of The Martian Chronicles, and Bradbury’s Emmy-winning ABC collaboration with Malcolm Clarke on “Infinite Horizons: Space Beyond Apollo.”

Planetary Distance Law and Resonance

1991 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 329-329
Author(s):  
J. J. Rawal
Keyword(s):  
Solar System ◽  
Resonant Structures ◽  
Satellite Systems ◽  
Resonance Relation

AbstractIn this paper the relation between the planetary distance law and the resonant structures is shown, in that the resonance relation has been expressed in terms of Roche’s constant (Rawal 1984,1986,1989). This brings forth a coherent, elegant and unified picture of the Solar System and satellite systems.

scholarly journals The Abundant Irregular Satellites of the Giant Planets

2005 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
pp. 898-900 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott S. Sheppard ◽  
David C. Jewitt
Keyword(s):  
Solar System ◽  
Special Interest ◽  
Planet Formation ◽  
Large Population ◽  
Giant Planets ◽  
Population Statistics ◽  
Satellite Systems ◽  
Irregular Satellites ◽  
Eccentric Orbits ◽  
Heliocentric Orbit

AbstractIrregular satellites have eccentric orbits that can be highly inclined or even retrograde relative to the equatorial planes of their planets. These objects cannot have formed by circumplanetary accretion as did the regular satellites which follow un-inclined, nearly circular, pro-grade orbits. Instead, they are likely products of early capture from heliocentric orbit. The study of the irregular satellites provides a unique window on processes operating in the young solar system. Recent discoveries around Jupiter (45 new satellites), Saturn (13), Uranus (9), and Neptune (5) have almost increased the number of known irregular satellites by a factor of ten and suggest that the gas and ice giant planets all have fairly similar irregular satellite systems. Dynamical groupings were most likely produced by collisional shattering of precursor objects after capture by their planets. Jupiter is considered as a case of special interest. Its proximity allows us to probe the fainter, smaller irregular satellites to obtain large population statistics in order to address the questions of planet formation and capture.

scholarly journals Commission 20: Positions and Motions of Minor Planets, Comets and Satellites (Positions et Mouvements des Petites Planetes, des Cometes et des Satellites)

1991 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 187-204
Author(s):  
R. M. West
Keyword(s):  
Solar System ◽  
Theoretical Models ◽  
Dynamical Analysis ◽  
Minor Planets ◽  
Secular Acceleration ◽  
The Past ◽  
Broad Field ◽  
Voyager 2

The past triennium was characterized by important advances in several directions within the broad field of this Commission. Among the most exciting events were the Phobos 2 and Voyager 2 missions to Mars/Phobos and Neptune/Triton; their navigation was critically dependent on precise space- and ground-based observations as well as refined theoretical models of the motions in the solar system. Among many other achievements, the secular acceleration of Phobos was accurately measured and the dynamical analysis of the ring-like arcs at Neptune has just begun.

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