Abstract
The secular Love and the secular tidal numbers have been computed for eight synchronously orbiting satellites in the solar system for which the triaxiality parameters and satellite-centric gravitational constant are available. Excepting Deimos the total mass of which should be first refined, the secular Love and tidal numbers are rather close to unity, as a rule. That is why, the centrifugal and tidal distortions can be assumed responsible for the actual figures of the synchronously orbiting satellites resulting from the primordial spheres, as well as, their static equilibrium nearly satisfied. The hypothesis of the origin of synchronously orbiting satellites by accretion in orbits is supported by the results obtained.
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References
Bills, B. G. and Synnott, S. P.: 1987, Rev. Geophys. 25, 833.
Davies, M. E.: 1988, Report of the IAU/IAG/COSPAR Working Group on Cartographic Coordinates and Rotational Elements of the Planets and Satellites.
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Burša, M. Secular love and tidal numbers of synchronously orbiting satellites. Earth Moon Planet 43, 261–265 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00117097
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00117097