The mean rotation rate of Venus from 29 years of Earth-based radar observations

Bruce A. Campbell; Donald B. Campbell; Lynn M. Carter; John F. Chandler; J. D. Giorgini; Jean Luc Margot; Gareth A. Morgan; Michael C. Nolan; Phillip J. Perillat; Jennifer L. Whitten

doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2019.06.019

The mean rotation rate of Venus from 29 years of Earth-based radar observations

Bruce A. Campbell
, Donald B. Campbell
, Lynn M. Carter
, John F. Chandler
, J. D. Giorgini
, Jean Luc Margot
, Gareth A. Morgan
, Michael C. Nolan
, Phillip J. Perillat
, Jennifer L. Whitten

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

12 Scopus citations

Abstract

We measured the length of the Venus sidereal day (LOD) from Earth-based radar observations collected from 1988 to 2017, using offsets in surface feature longitudes from a prediction based on a 243.0185d period derived from analysis of Magellan mission images over a 487-day interval. We derive a mean LOD over 29 years of 243.0212 ± 0.0006d. Our result is consistent with earlier estimates (but with smaller uncertainties), including those based on offsets between Venus Express infrared mapping data and Magellan topography that suggest a mean LOD of 243.0228 ± 0.002d over a 16-year interval. We cannot detect subtle, short-term oscillations in rate, but the derived value provides an excellent fit to observational data over a 29-year period that can be used for future landing-site planning.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	19-23
Number of pages	5
Journal	Icarus
Volume	332
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2019.06.019
State	Published - Nov 1 2019

Keywords

Radar observations
Rotational dynamics
Venus

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

Access to Document

10.1016/j.icarus.2019.06.019

Cite this

@article{495eb59b22e54ee6894484dab3fb0506,

title = "The mean rotation rate of Venus from 29 years of Earth-based radar observations",

abstract = "We measured the length of the Venus sidereal day (LOD) from Earth-based radar observations collected from 1988 to 2017, using offsets in surface feature longitudes from a prediction based on a 243.0185d period derived from analysis of Magellan mission images over a 487-day interval. We derive a mean LOD over 29 years of 243.0212 ± 0.0006d. Our result is consistent with earlier estimates (but with smaller uncertainties), including those based on offsets between Venus Express infrared mapping data and Magellan topography that suggest a mean LOD of 243.0228 ± 0.002d over a 16-year interval. We cannot detect subtle, short-term oscillations in rate, but the derived value provides an excellent fit to observational data over a 29-year period that can be used for future landing-site planning.",

keywords = "Radar observations, Rotational dynamics, Venus",

author = "Campbell, \{Bruce A.\} and Campbell, \{Donald B.\} and Carter, \{Lynn M.\} and Chandler, \{John F.\} and Giorgini, \{J. D.\} and Margot, \{Jean Luc\} and Morgan, \{Gareth A.\} and Nolan, \{Michael C.\} and Perillat, \{Phillip J.\} and Whitten, \{Jennifer L.\}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2019 Elsevier Inc.",

year = "2019",

month = nov,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1016/j.icarus.2019.06.019",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "332",

pages = "19--23",

journal = "Icarus",

issn = "0019-1035",

publisher = "Academic Press Inc.",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - The mean rotation rate of Venus from 29 years of Earth-based radar observations

AU - Campbell, Bruce A.

AU - Campbell, Donald B.

AU - Carter, Lynn M.

AU - Chandler, John F.

AU - Giorgini, J. D.

AU - Margot, Jean Luc

AU - Morgan, Gareth A.

AU - Nolan, Michael C.

AU - Perillat, Phillip J.

AU - Whitten, Jennifer L.

PY - 2019/11/1

Y1 - 2019/11/1

N2 - We measured the length of the Venus sidereal day (LOD) from Earth-based radar observations collected from 1988 to 2017, using offsets in surface feature longitudes from a prediction based on a 243.0185d period derived from analysis of Magellan mission images over a 487-day interval. We derive a mean LOD over 29 years of 243.0212 ± 0.0006d. Our result is consistent with earlier estimates (but with smaller uncertainties), including those based on offsets between Venus Express infrared mapping data and Magellan topography that suggest a mean LOD of 243.0228 ± 0.002d over a 16-year interval. We cannot detect subtle, short-term oscillations in rate, but the derived value provides an excellent fit to observational data over a 29-year period that can be used for future landing-site planning.

AB - We measured the length of the Venus sidereal day (LOD) from Earth-based radar observations collected from 1988 to 2017, using offsets in surface feature longitudes from a prediction based on a 243.0185d period derived from analysis of Magellan mission images over a 487-day interval. We derive a mean LOD over 29 years of 243.0212 ± 0.0006d. Our result is consistent with earlier estimates (but with smaller uncertainties), including those based on offsets between Venus Express infrared mapping data and Magellan topography that suggest a mean LOD of 243.0228 ± 0.002d over a 16-year interval. We cannot detect subtle, short-term oscillations in rate, but the derived value provides an excellent fit to observational data over a 29-year period that can be used for future landing-site planning.

KW - Radar observations

KW - Rotational dynamics

KW - Venus

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85068445738

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85068445738#tab=citedBy

U2 - 10.1016/j.icarus.2019.06.019

DO - 10.1016/j.icarus.2019.06.019

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85068445738

SN - 0019-1035

VL - 332

SP - 19

EP - 23

JO - Icarus

JF - Icarus

ER -

The mean rotation rate of Venus from 29 years of Earth-based radar observations

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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Cite this

The mean rotation rate of Venus from 29 years of Earth-based radar observations

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

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Fingerprint

Cite this

The mean rotation rate of Venus from 29 years of Earth-based radar observations