Abstract
The mean moment-of-inertia ratio,I/MR 2, of Mars cannot be derived from its precessional constant because the exact value of the Martian axial precession is unknown presently. Using the known geodetic parameters of Mars as the constrained condition, we constructed nine Martian internal structure models (see Table II). We can then estimate the nonhydrostatic components of the principal moment-of-inertia for these models. The interplanetary comparison suggests that the reasonable range of the mean moment-of-inertia ratio,I/MR 2, of Mars is 0.350 ∼ 0.360, and the range of the corresponding radius of Mars' core is 1520 ∼ 1850 km. The two parameterically simple models recommended in this paper (see Table IV) can be used for reference in the future theoretical researches.
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Zhang, C.Z. The Martian mean moment-of-inertia and the size of the Mars' core. Earth Moon Planet 64, 117–124 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00604482
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00604482