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A PERTURBED MOON: SOLVING NEREID'S MOTION TO MATCH OBSERVED BRIGHTNESS VARIATIONS

Hesselbrock, Andrew J.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1344100992

Abstract Details

2012, Master of Science, Miami University, Physics.
Since its discovery in 1949, Nereid's photometric variations, orbit, and mass have been well established, however knowledge of its spin, orientation, and shape is lacking. We simulate Nereid's orbital and rotational motion, dependent on these unknown characteristics, in an attempt to match observations. We show how a time-dependent gravitational torque can cause the body to precess on a timespan as small as ~ 17 years, following a complicated coning nutation. Modeled as a uniformly reflecting body, we find that if the photometric variations are to be solely explained by geometry, Nereid cannot be either prolate or oblate. We have produced large amplitude, intra-night variations similar to those presented in Schaefer et al. (2008), but are unable to fully match their observations. Our study shows our strongest candidate to have an initial obliquity of 60 degrees, a spin rate of 144 hours, and semi-axial ratios of c/a ~ 0.5, b/a ~ 0.6.
Stephen Alexander, PhD (Advisor)
Michael Pechan, PhD (Committee Member)
Paul Urayama, PhD (Committee Member)
49 p.
Applied Mathematics; Astronomy; Astrophysics; Physics; Theoretical Physics
Nereid; Neptune; dynamical evolution; prolate moons; rotational stability; forced precession

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Hesselbrock, A. J. (2012). A PERTURBED MOON: SOLVING NEREID'S MOTION TO MATCH OBSERVED BRIGHTNESS VARIATIONS [Master's thesis, Miami University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1344100992

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Hesselbrock, Andrew. A PERTURBED MOON: SOLVING NEREID'S MOTION TO MATCH OBSERVED BRIGHTNESS VARIATIONS. 2012. Miami University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1344100992.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Hesselbrock, Andrew. "A PERTURBED MOON: SOLVING NEREID'S MOTION TO MATCH OBSERVED BRIGHTNESS VARIATIONS." Master's thesis, Miami University, 2012. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1344100992

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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© 2012, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Miami University and OhioLINK.