On the Rotational Behavior of Nereid

We have conducted a set of numerical simulations of the combined orbital and rotational motion of Neptune's moon Nereid to study its rotational behavior under the influence of gravitational torques from Neptune. Due to the high eccentricity of its orbit, and the fact that the gravitational torq...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Astronomical journal 2011-07, Vol.142 (1), p.1-jQuery1323897489676='48'
Main Authors: Alexander, S. G, Hesselbrock, Andrew J, Wu, Tiandan, Marshall, Megan D, Abel, N. P
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
ASTROPHYSICS, COSMOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
EVOLUTION
MOON
NEPTUNE PLANET
ORBITS
PLANETS
SATELLITES
SIMULATION
SOLAR SYSTEM EVOLUTION
TORQUE
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Summary:We have conducted a set of numerical simulations of the combined orbital and rotational motion of Neptune's moon Nereid to study its rotational behavior under the influence of gravitational torques from Neptune. Due to the high eccentricity of its orbit, and the fact that the gravitational torque from Neptune varies as r --3, Nereid experiences a large impulsive torque during each periapsis passage. If Nereid is a prolate body, then these kicks induce oscillations in the orientation of its spin axis that is seen to be a coning motion of modulating amplitude. We have proposed that these modulations may be responsible for the long-term photometric variability of Nereid as reported by Schaefer et al. and others.
ISSN:1538-3881
0004-6256
1538-3881
DOI:10.1088/0004-6256/142/1/1